Marsha De Cordova MP: speeches

Speeches

• 27 Feb 2025 · Diocese of Jerusalem · Hansard source

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  There is no safe place on the west bank, including in East Jerusalem, for Palestinians. The attacks on the Christian community there are focused on seizing land and property, and have been increasing in recent months, with Armenian churches bearing the brunt. The Christian community faces a co-ordinated and aggressive move to drive these living stones of our faith to leave the region. Bishops have frequently visited the region over the past 16 months; they have regularly met the Archbishop of Jerusalem to discuss how best they can help the diocese to respond to the many appalling attacks. It is important that we hold up the people of Palestine in prayer for their safety and security. Violence is not the answer to any of this.

• 27 Feb 2025 · Diocese of Jerusalem · Hansard source

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  I mentioned funds in my response to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton and Winchmore Hill (Kate Osamor). I can certainly write to the hon. Gentleman about the discussions that have taken place with the Archbishop of Jerusalem, if he would find that helpful.

• 29 Jan 2025 · Pavement Parking · Hansard source

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  I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the law relating to parking on verges and footways in England outside of Greater London and in Wales. The Bill would give local authorities power to enforce against anti-social and hazardous pavement parking, and associated powers to enforce against obstructive parking of rental micromobility devices, including e-scooters and e-bikes. Across much of the country, cars blocking pavements are one of the most common problems faced by pedestrians. Pavement parking can be especially dangerous for wheelchair users and those using other mobility devices, people with pushchairs and young children, and people with sight loss, like me, who can be forced into the road with traffic that they cannot see. Helen, a guide dog owner, described the impact of pavement parking when she came to Parliament to speak on the issue at the end of last year: “My life hinges on my ability to trust in the safety of my surroundings, but when pavement parking obstructs the path, it robs me of my independence, confidence, and my trust in the world around me. Each time my trusted path is blocked, I lose a little more of my autonomy.” Helen is not alone. According to research conducted by the charity Guide Dogs, four out of five blind or partially sighted people said that pavement parking made it difficult to walk on the pavement at least once a week, and nearly 95% of people living with sight loss have been forced to walk in the road owing to vehicles parked on pavements. That number rose to 99% for wheelchair or mobility scooter users. As well as causing an obstruction, cars parked on pavements damage the surface, creating trip hazards, and one in five people with sight loss said they had been injured as a result. However, it does not have to be this way. In London, a law prohibiting pavement parking has been in place since 1974. Progress has also been made in Scotland, where the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 enabled local councils to enforce against pavement parking. So while progress has been made in some parts of the country, in many others pavement parking continues. My constituent Kimberley spoke of the contrast when travelling outside London: “I don’t encounter much pavement parking in London… But when I visit family elsewhere it is a different story. People park everywhere, and don’t leave enough space for me, my guide dog and my young son to pass. It means we have to step out into busy roads…I have to concentrate to make sure none of us gets run over.” While we should commend the progress made on pavement parking in London, increasingly we are seeing abandoned rental e-scooters and e-bikes obstructing pavements. That remains a problem in my constituency. This Bill would increase the power of local authorities to introduce penalties for operators and riders of e-bikes and e-scooters left on pavements. It would replicate the existing offence of parking heavy goods vehicles on pavements or kerbs, and extend it to all motor vehicles. Civil enforcement officers could actually enforce that. Although it has long been a specific offence to drive on pavements outside London and Scotland, it is not a specific offence to park on pavements in most circumstances. That is reflected in highway code rule 244, which states: “You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it.” Civil traffic enforcement is possible in some limited cases, such as for parking over dropped kerbs or adjacent to double yellow lines, but in most cases local traffic wardens do not actually have powers to act. Councils can use traffic regulation orders or install physical barriers to prevent pavement parking, but TROs are not designed to be used to cover wide areas and require considerable signage and street markings, making their widespread use expensive. In some cases, cars blocking pavements can be considered an obstruction under the Highways Act 1980. However, as this is a criminal offence, it can be enforced only by police. Given the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes an obstruction, and the lack of police resources, relying on police enforcement has not proven effective. There is a clear need for a law that brings the rest of England in line with London and Scotland. Councils need to be empowered to take action, as they know their areas best. This Bill would give them the flexibility to create limited exemptions in response to consultation with their local communities. A change in the law has widespread support, including from over 65% of the public and 74% of councillors in England. Sustrans, Guide Dogs, Living Streets, Transport for All, the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the Thomas Pocklington Trust all support a new law. This morning, I was delighted to join a group of campaigners in supporting an open letter, signed by almost 20,000 people, that urges party leaders to support a change in the law. This is not a new debate; indeed, the measures introduced in London in 1974 were originally intended to apply to the rest of the country. In 2020, the then Conservative Government consulted on tackling pavement parking. That consultation considered a range of options, but today marks 1,530 days since it closed. Indeed, on 8 February last year, I called on the then Government to get on and publish their response. I welcome the Roads Minister’s commitment that this Government are looking at all options and will come forward with a response to the consultation in due course, and I look forward to working with her on that. I understand that she is due to meet some of the charities and groups campaigning on this issue, and I know that they hope to speak to her before any final decisions are made. I also welcome the references to pavement parking in the White Paper on the English devolution Bill, and the consideration of licensing for micro-mobility devices. However, there needs to be an explicit commitment, and a clear timetable, to address these problems. The Government are rightly committed to delivering record investment in infrastructure and transport projects, but it is important that we get the fundamentals right and make sure that our streets are safe for everyone. Pavement parking prevents many people from living their lives, working, socialising, taking their children to school or getting to a vital appointment, and that has to change. We have clear evidence that laws like this can and do work, and I urge the House to support this Bill. Question put and agreed to. Ordered, That Marsha De Cordova, Kate Osamor, Steve Darling, Jim Shannon, Daniel Francis, Shockat Adam, Martin Vickers, Dr Scott Arthur, Jen Craft, Florence Eshalomi, Rosie Duffield and Dr Rosena Allin-Khan present the Bill. Marsha De Cordova accordingly presented the Bill. Bill read the F irst time; to be read a S econd time on Friday 16 May , and to be printed (Bill 170) .

• 27 Jan 2025 · Specialist Teachers: Disabled Children · Hansard source

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  Research in June 2023 found that only 56% of teachers in mainstream schools felt confident about supporting children with a special educational need or disability. Today, that means many children, including in my constituency, are still missing out on learning and leaving school without the skills they need. Does the Minister agree that we need more specialist teachers, including those for multisensory purposes and for children with visual impairments, to ensure every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential?

• 27 Jan 2025 · Specialist Teachers: Disabled Children · Hansard source

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  15. What steps she is taking to ensure that disabled children have access to specialist teachers.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Hyde Park Estate · Hansard source

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  The Hyde Park estate has been managed by the Church Commissioners for over 150 years, and they are committed to its long-term stewardship. As responsible landlords, the commissioners are committed to adopting best practice and have continuous investment programmes for the management of buildings on the estate to ensure that they remain fit for purpose both now and in the future.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Hyde Park Estate · Hansard source

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  Of course I congratulate the residents on their hard work. I know from my constituency about the challenges around increases in service charges; it is so important that they are transparent to everybody. I would be happy to join my hon. Friend in a meeting with her residents on this issue, and I would recommend including those from the Church Commissioners’ property services team. I hope that will be okay.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Hyde Park Estate · Hansard source

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  I am sure that those managing and maintaining the estate are looking at all those issues, but I would be happy to write to the hon. Gentleman with further information.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme · Hansard source

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  I congratulate my hon. Friend on raising this issue. It is so important to ensure that our local churches are supported and that churches such as St Michael’s in his constituency can deliver the repairs they need so that they can continue to be a benefit to their communities. The National Churches Trust recently found that for every £1 of investment £16 is returned to the local community in the form of events facilities, warm spaces, food banks and so much more. He will not be surprised to learn that I have raised the issue of the listed places of worship scheme with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and I really hope that the Government are listening and will want to continue with this vital and essential scheme.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme · Hansard source

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  Yes.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme · Hansard source

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  I will certainly share the hon. Member’s thoughts, but I am happy to write to him with further details on other spaces where he can get more information on how he can support schemes in his constituency.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme · Hansard source

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  I absolutely recognise the importance of the scheme and the difference that the cathedral’s social impact projects are making in her community. I would be very happy to put my hon. Friend in touch with the director of property strategy for the Church in Wales, so that they can discuss this issue and, I hope, lobby together to ensure—to say it once again—that the scheme is renewed.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for the question. As he will have heard throughout this Question Time, we are keen to ensure that the listed places of worship grant scheme continues, because we can see not only the immense benefits it brings to our communities, but how it helps to alleviate some of the challenges of raising funds. It is important that all our heritage buildings, including our churches, are preserved and that adequate funding is available for them. I would be very happy, if the hon. Member wishes, to meet him to discuss this further.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme · Hansard source

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  I know that St Michael’s church in Linlithgow in my hon. Friend’s constituency is a beautiful medieval church with strong community links and engagement. Although I am accountable only for the Church of England, I reassure her that the Church is working closely with its partners in Scotland, as they too want clarity on the future of this vital scheme. I would be happy to put her in touch with the head of church buildings for the Church of Scotland if she so wishes.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme · Hansard source

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  The listed places of worship grant scheme provides support to religious communities with listed buildings by refunding the cost of VAT on repairs. The Church Commissioners view this scheme as an effective way to deliver transformational benefits to local communities, enabling restoration, repair and improved access. I welcome the support shown for the scheme by hon. Members across the House.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme · Hansard source

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  I will have a look at the hon. Member’s Bill.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I know that St Ives church is a cornerstone of that community, and I congratulate the congregation on the funding they have raised to stabilise some of the church’s structures. Grants from the buildings for mission fund are available from the diocese and may help with some of the future work. However, we all know the importance of the listed places of worship scheme, and I will continue to raise it with the Secretary of State. I hope that the Government are listening and will come forward, as the scheme is due to end in March, and we certainly do not want that to happen.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Makin Review · Hansard source

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  The Makin report made clear the devastating abuse suffered by children and young people at the hands of John Smyth. In the meeting I had with representatives from the Archbishops’ Council, I raised the need for the Makin review to be a defining and watershed moment for the Church. The review made 27 recommendations, some of which have already been implemented. I am awaiting a full and thorough update from the Church on the detailed progress being made on each recommendation. That work is in addition to the ongoing efforts to respond to the Wilkinson and Alexis Jay inquiries into child sexual abuse. Following these reports, the Church began developing potential new safeguarding models, which will be decided at the General Synod in February.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Makin Review · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend rightly raises the work that her own bishop has been doing in her constituency on this issue. Following the Makin review, colleagues such as my hon. Friend and many represented here today and from across the House have rightly been raising their concerns about safeguarding in the Church. This week I met representatives from the Archbishops’ Council, including the Bishop of Stepney, Joanne Grenfell, who is the lead bishop for safeguarding in the Church, to raise my concerns. The House can rest assured that I did that robustly. The Church’s national safeguarding team is now at stage three of its four-stage process to assess and deal with the risk posed by those criticised in the Makin review, which is rightly welcomed. In addition, the Church institutions have developed the two model proposals on safeguarding, which will go to the Synod in February. Those independent safeguarding models will look at a scrutiny body and at safeguarding operations more independent of the Church. I will be at the Synod in February, and I will listen closely to that debate. Make no mistake, the Church has an enormous amount of work to do to create a cultural shift. That is what is required. It needs to rebuild trust and confidence. It is also important that everybody in the House feels as though they get the opportunity to raise their concerns. I thank my hon. Friend and others for ensuring that they have raised this issue here today.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Makin Review · Hansard source

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  Independent scrutiny of the Church’s safeguarding work is extremely important. The Church commissioned a series of audits on dioceses and cathedrals by independent safeguarding experts, and several have been completed and published. The independently chaired national safeguarding panel, which includes victims and survivors among its members, currently scrutinises safeguarding, but as I have already pointed out, proposals to strengthen scrutiny in the Church will be voted on at the Synod next month, and the Church will then have to create a plan for implementation once the right model has been approved at that General Synod in February.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Makin Review · Hansard source

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  The right hon. Member makes a critical point. It is so important for the Church to view this as the chance to turn a corner and make it a watershed moment. We need change, and those responsible must be held to account. I would be happy to discuss this matter further with the right hon. Member if that would be of help, but he should make no mistake that I strongly believe that it is important that the Church is held to account. The Bishop of Stepney—the lead bishop for safeguarding—and the director for safeguarding both welcomed the Makin review when it was first published last year. We must ensure that its recommendations are implemented.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Church of England: Racial Injustice · Hansard source

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  In 2020 the House of Bishops created the archbishops’ anti-racism taskforce, followed by the archbishops’ commission for racial justice, to continue the work of tackling racial injustice in the Church and society. Last February, the General Synod voted unanimously to continue efforts to address racial injustice across the Church.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Church of England: Racial Injustice · Hansard source

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  The Church’s role in slavery is truly shameful. It is only right that it takes action to recognise its links to the transatlantic enslavement of Africans. No amount of money would ever be enough to repair the horrors of the slave trade, but the Church Commissioners’ project will set aside £100 million over nine years for a programme of impact, investment, research and engagement. It is hoped that this fund will continue to grow over time and will reinvest returns. Investments in grant funding will be directed towards communities that have been impacted by the enslavement of Africans.

• 13 Jan 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T10. I welcome the Government’s plans to tackle youth violence, but also to prioritise early intervention. In Battersea, brilliant organisations such as Carney’s Community are delivering targeted services to young people—from mentoring and life skills, to boxing and fitness. Does the Minister agree that organisations such as Carney’s need our support? Will she agree to visit it so that she can hear at first hand about its approach to tackling youth violence?

• 9 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  A very happy new year to you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The listed places of worship grant scheme permits VAT to be refunded on repairs to some of our oldest church buildings, as well as other religious buildings. Since its introduction under the last Labour Government, the scheme has helped with the restoration of thousands of buildings across the country. It is vital that the scheme does not come to an end on 31 March, as it would make it near-impossible for many buildings and parishes to restore their spaces. Can we have a Government statement on the future of the listed places of worship grant scheme?