Emma Lewell MP: speeches

184 published records · newest first.

Speeches

3 Nov 2025 · Regulation of houses in multiple occupation · Hansard source
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I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents regarding the uncontrolled growth and lack of monitoring of houses in multiple occupation across South Shields. HMOs are having a detrimental impact on our community, increasing antisocial behaviour and contributing to the erosion of family housing. Everyone deserves to have a place to call home, and everyone deserves to feel safe in that home. HMOs should not be allowed to be used as a substitute for good-quality, affordable housing. The petitioners therefore request that: “the House of Commons urge the Government to introduce new legislation to regulate and lessen the proliferation of houses in multiple occupation; and to ask that each local authority publishes their strategy and policies on HMOs. And the petitioners remain, etc.” Following is the full text of the petition: [The petition of residents of the constituency of South Shields Declares that the uncontrolled growth of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) within the constituency is having a detrimental impact on communities, leading to overcrowding, crime, anti-social behaviour, parking pressures, and the erosion of family housing availability; notes that HMOs are subject to different licensing regimes under housing law, including mandatory licensing, additional licensing, and selective licensing; further declares that while these licensing schemes provide oversight of management and safety, the planning system remains the main safeguard against over-concentration; and further declares that without strengthened legislation, HMOs can proliferate unchecked. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to introduce new legislation to regulate and lessen the proliferation of houses in multiple occupation; and to ask that each local authority publishes their strategy and policies on HMOs. And the petitioners remain, etc.] [P003124]
27 Oct 2025 · Holidays During School Term Time · Hansard source
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Order. Will Members please keep their contributions to five minutes, so that everyone can get in? I the Chair of the Education Committee.
27 Oct 2025 · Employment: People with Health Conditions · Hansard source
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23. What steps he is taking to support people with health conditions into work.
27 Oct 2025 · Employment: People with Health Conditions · Hansard source
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The Motability scheme provides a lifeline to people with disabilities, allowing them to get to health appointments, study, maintain employment and so much more. Cuts to the scheme risk increased health needs and increased unemployment, which are likely to cost much more than any short-term savings. Does my right hon. Friend agree that before any proposed cuts are implemented, it is vital to carry out a proper impact assessment?
21 Oct 2025 · Sentencing Bill · Hansard source
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I am going to make a short speech on new clause 27, tabled in my name and the name of other hon. Members. After a short relationship, my constituent Sophie Hall has suffered and continues to suffer from a prolonged and relentless stalking campaign from her ex-partner, who was residing illegally in the UK. In November last year, he was arrested for these offences, but was never spoken to about them, as no interpreter could be found. No risk assessment was done, and he was placed in temporary accommodation on bail, which he continued to breach. In February, Sophie’s ex-partner was convicted and sentenced under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and was subsequently deported to his home country of Brazil with a 10-year re-entry ban effective from March. He then made his way to Europe, travelling across several countries before ending up back in the UK. In May, he was arrested in Belfast boarding a flight to Inverness. His aim, as always, was to get to Sophie. The Crown Prosecution Service then charged him with stalking and breaches of restraining order and immigration offences and he was remanded in custody. After review, the CPS stated that no charges could be filed for stalking under the current law because the stalking had happened outside the UK, the perpetrator is not a UK citizen or resident, and the existing law does not give the UK courts jurisdiction over stalking offences committed from abroad under these circumstances. This is the crux of new clause 27.
21 Oct 2025 · Sentencing Bill · Hansard source
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I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his intervention and support. Simply put, I want no one else to go through what Sophie is going through. She has to live her life in constant fear and has been through absolute hell. I hope that the Minister will give my new clause proper consideration.
15 Oct 2025 · Tree Maintenance: Guidance to Local Authorities · Hansard source
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I will call Esther McVey to move the motion. I will then call the Minister to respond. I remind other Members that they may only make a speech with prior permission from the Member in charge of the debate and the Minister. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as is the convention for 30-minute debates.
15 Oct 2025 · Educational Assessment System Reform · Hansard source
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Order. We will have to limit contributions to three and a half minutes.
16 Sept 2025 · Support for Witnesses · Hansard source
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My constituent Billy Boyack saw his wife Angela and son Stephen killed in a head-on collision. The driver responsible initially showed no remorse and was already banned from the area under bail conditions. He received only a 13-year sentence. How does the Minister intend to redress the unfairness in our sentencing laws, with victims like Billy suffering such injustice?
11 Sept 2025 · Bus Services · Hansard source
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5. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.
11 Sept 2025 · Bus Services · Hansard source
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My constituents are sick of being ignored when it comes to vital bus routes being withdrawn. More than 600 of them recently signed a petition after the unexpected and rapid withdrawal of the well used No. 17. Giving more powers to local councils does not always equate to communities having more of a say. Can the Minister please explain what checks and balances are in place to ensure that, as we devolve powers, residents really are listened to?
4 Sept 2025 · Procedure Committee · Hansard source
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I remind the hon. Member that these are brief questions.
4 Sept 2025 · Procedure Committee · Hansard source
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We begin with a Select Committee statement. Graeme Downie will speak on the publication of the second report of the Procedure Committee, “Proxy voting: Review of arrangements introduced in Session 2024-25”, HC 489, for up to 10 minutes, during which no interventions can be taken. At the conclusion of his statement, I will call Members to put questions on the subject of the statement, and I will call Graeme Downie to respond to these in turn. Questions should be brief, and Members may ask only one question each.
4 Sept 2025 · Procedure Committee · Hansard source
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Order. The sitting is suspended until 1.50 pm.
4 Sept 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source
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Before I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, I remind the Opposition Front Benchers that if they take the full allotted 10 minutes, the Minister’s time to respond to the debate will be squeezed.
4 Sept 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source
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Order.
4 Sept 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source
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I was about to remind Members that they need to bob if they wish to speak in the debate, but I see everyone already has. I need to call the Front Benchers at 2.38 pm, so we will need to impose an immediate time limit of two and a half minutes. I call Helen Hayes, Chair of the Education Committee.
4 Sept 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source
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Order. To ensure all Members get a chance to speak, we are going to have to reduce the time limit to two minutes. I call Josh Newbury.
4 Sept 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source
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Order.
4 Sept 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source
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Order. I call Lee Dillon.
4 Sept 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source
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Unfortunately, we are going to have to reduce the time limit to a minute and a half. I call Martin Wrigley.
3 Sept 2025 · Duty of Candour for Public Authorities and Legal Representation for Bereaved Families · Hansard source
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It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mrs Hobhouse. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool West Derby (Ian Byrne), who has spoken powerfully many times about his own experiences and has consistently pressed for justice for the 97. There is a longstanding, deep problem in this country that smacks of cover-up and of protection of the establishment and public bodies at all costs. We see it time and time again, with Hillsborough, Grenfell, the Post Office scandal, the infected blood scandal, covid-19 bereaved families and the longest-running scandal in British history: the fight for justice for our nuclear veterans. Those who are injured, suffering from ill health and deep trauma, and those who live daily with the heartbreak of missing their loved ones have to break every single sinew fighting the very people and the very institutions set up to protect and serve them. I know from my constituents who lost their children in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack about the financial and emotional toil and the feeling of powerlessness from being done to by those with more agency, more power, and deeper pockets. Grief is impossible when someone is locked in that battle. The daily, monthly, yearly, decade-long grind that families have to suffer just to be believed, while those responsible carry on regardless, sickens me to my stomach. When justice feels like it may be close, the public apology comes from Ministers at the Dispatch Box, followed by promises of lessons learned and change, and that it will not be allowed to ever happen again. Yet it does. Lessons are never learned. Meaningful change never takes place. People are tired of it, and tired of hearing empty promises. Trust in Government and institutions, and faith in our democracy are at the lowest levels I have ever seen. The Government promised to enact a Hillsborough law by April this year; they have not. There have been reports that the legislation has been watered down. It has been ready since 2017, yet we are being told more time is needed to get it right. Like many others, I struggle to understand what exactly the Government need more time for, and what they need to look closer at. The Hillsborough law as is, with no changes, tweaks or amendments, should be introduced to the House now. Nothing less will do. It matters to so many people.
3 Sept 2025 · Covid-19 Vaccination Harm · Hansard source
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I will call Sir Christopher Chope to move the motion and then the Minister to respond. I remind other Members that they may make a speech only with prior permission from the Member in charge of the debate and the Minister. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as is the convention for 30-minute debates.
14 Jul 2025 · Northern Ireland Veterans: Prosecution · Hansard source
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Order. Do not shout.
14 Jul 2025 · Northern Ireland Veterans: Prosecution · Hansard source
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Order. The shadow Minister has made it clear that he is not going to give way.

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