Patrick Hurley MP: speeches

Speeches

• 17 Jan 2025 · Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith (Tracy Gilbert) for bringing this valuable debate and Bill before the House today. As has been made clear by many speakers, for as long as we have known it, there has been a weird hotchpotch of different regulations concerning different elections in the UK. We have different voting systems for different elections; we have parliamentary boundaries that take little account of the boundaries for local elections; and we have age differences for different elections in different parts of the country, with votes at 16 in some parts of the country for some elections. We have voter ID regulations. We have the single transferable vote, top-up systems and first past the post. That whole hotchpotch of different regulations needs to be simplified and standardised.

• 13 Jan 2025 · Children’s Social Media Accounts · Hansard source

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  The failure of Ofcom to regulate the small but risky platforms seems to mean that a site such as LinkedIn is being regulated to a greater extent than platforms such as Telegram or Discord, which are overrun with far-right activism, self-harm, misinformation, homophobia and antisemitic content. Does my hon. Friend agree that that needs to be rectified and that Ofcom needs to raise its game?

• 7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Vaz, and I thank the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson) for securing this debate. Prior to the election, the Labour party made a promise to the British people not to put up taxes on working people and I am proud that they have not put up taxes on working people. However, everybody in this country has known for years that the state was failing on its own terms. Prior to the election, I spent a year as my party’s candidate and I canvassed every single street in my Southport constituency; I know pretty much every dodgy garden gate and letterbox in the whole town. The one complaint I heard over and over and over again was that nothing works properly in this country any more. The reason why nothing works properly in this country any more is the economic legacy of the Conservative party. GP appointments, train journeys, street lights, social care—none of it works. We had to do something to put this country’s economic policy on an even keel, and this is what we had to do. [ Interruption. ] I will take no lectures from anybody over there who opposes it.

• 7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source

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  The Conservative party has been very clear that it wants tax cuts, but less clear on what public services it would cut to pay for them. Perhaps the Minister might wish to reflect on that.

• 19 Dec 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T3. I recently met farmers in the northern parishes of my constituency, and they told me about the urgent need for improved water management to protect farmland. They want to establish an internal drainage board for flood management, but they cannot take action to set it up until the necessary statutory instrument is in place. Given the importance of establishing an IDB in my area, will the Minister commit to working with me and stakeholders to reduce flood risks, and will she outline when the statutory instrument for an IDB in my area might be put before the House?

• 18 Dec 2024 · BBC: Funding · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Lady for the question. Fewer people are willing to pay it, but there is a way around that. The BBC can make efficiency savings that will help to rebuild trust in it. If its content can be improved or its reach can be extended, that will lead to a regaining of trust, which the hon. Lady mentioned earlier, and to more people supporting the BBC financially through the licence fee. I want to come on to an issue that the BBC has struggled with in recent years: trust. BBC Verify is a new service to combat the disinformation that we are seeing online. BBC Verify can be improved, both in content and in tone, as I have raised directly with BBC executives. I have also raised the fact that it is not perfect, but it is a good start in combating the disinformation and misinformation that we see online. I hope that more effort can be put into improving Verify’s output in the months and years to come. I turn to the importance of the World Service, which many Members have already discussed. I support the Government’s recent uplift in funding for the World Service, but I favour returning this funding to the Foreign Office to relieve financial pressures on the BBC’s domestic coverage, enable sustainability and stability in the long term, and help to support Britain’s soft-power role in an increasingly dangerous world. The BBC’s cultural impact is crucial to supporting the creative economy in the UK. The BBC strives to represent and serve all communities across the UK, and invests over half its funding outside London. The UK creative sector is a continuously developing area. The BBC’s £5 billion investment each year supports a unique entertainment output and provides world-class exports for viewers abroad. I want the BBC to be able to invest more in its cultural output so that it can extend its provision in that area. For those reasons, it is incredibly important to maintain the BBC’s position at the top of the electronic programme guide, so that public service broadcasting continues and survives in years to come. Finally, although the Government should monitor the BBC funding situation, the current system of charter renewal, whereby the BBC continually diverts attention and resources to the upcoming charter review, is less effective than it should be at supporting the BBC to deliver as a public service. I therefore ask that the system be changed to allow a permanent charter for the BBC, which the Government and the BBC, in concert, could alter as and when required, rather than after a mandated medium-term period. I welcome the Government’s commitment to putting the BBC on a stable financial footing, and look forward to the Minister’s comments.

• 18 Dec 2024 · BBC: Funding · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. I thank the right hon. Member for Maldon (Sir John Whittingdale) for bringing this debate to the House. Today is 18 December, so this time next week, millions of people will be gathered around their television to watch Christmas day programming. It is one minute past 3, so—

• 18 Dec 2024 · BBC: Funding · Hansard source

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  Millions will be watching the King’s speech this time next week—on the BBC. People would not subscribe to the BBC on Christmas day to watch the King’s speech, but to watch programmes such as “Gavin and Stacey”, “EastEnders”, or “Doctor Who”. If they subscribed for only entertainment purposes, however, they would miss out on the cultural life of the country and on important issues that they should be exposed to and should consume. A subscription service that unwittingly creates such a taxonomy of programming, and divides content between public sector broadcasting and entertainment, would fall foul of reducing the consumption of important content. The best way to ensure that the BBC continues to provide its services, therefore, is through the continuation and maintenance of the licence fee model, rather than general taxation for public sector broadcasting or subscription services for entertainment.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Co-operatives · Hansard source

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  Co-operative businesses can be the life- blood of our towns and communities. In my constituency, I have been working with stakeholders and interested parties to bring about a community co-operative bookshop, following the closure of independent bookshops in Southport in recent years due to the cost of living. May I take this opportunity to encourage new expressions of interest in the bookshop, and to ask the Minister to confirm what more support the Government can provide for our co-operative sector, so that towns like mine can see a thriving high street built around our community?

• 12 Dec 2024 · Co-operatives · Hansard source

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  10. What steps his Department is taking to help increase the size of the co-operative sector.

• 9 Dec 2024 · Fireworks: Sale and Use · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Mundell. I thank the petitioners and the hon. Member for Keighley and Ilkley (Robbie Moore) for the opportunity of today’s debate on firework regulation, and I also thank the Petitions Committee for its decision to grant the debate. Like many hon. Members, I love fireworks and I certainly do not think that they should be banned. In my constituency of Southport, we are proud to host the British musical fireworks championship every year in Victoria park. Often a sight to behold, it always features excellent displays, but that is the point: they are displays, they are specialised and regulated. Many technicians are on hand to ensure safety, and specialised explosive technicians set off the displays. Neither the petitions nor the Bill proposed by my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen) call for a total ban on fireworks. They both celebrate the enjoyment that the majority of people feel from firework displays. However, I am sympathetic to the idea that our current framework does not do enough to protect people and animals, and allows fireworks to be used dangerously and irresponsibly. Look at the current regulations. Allowing unlicensed traders to sell category F2 and F3 fireworks over a month around bonfire night, as well as during new year, Chinese new year and Diwali, is excessive. It means that there are widespread firework displays over an entire month, which disproportionately affects our vulnerable groups in society. One such group is our veterans, many of whom are suffering from PTSD or other forms of distress from fighting for our country. During the period of remembrance, as it is so close to bonfire night, we put our veterans under further pressure. The charity Combat Stress has recorded a higher rate of distressed veterans accessing its services during the period around bonfire night, due to the whistles, the bangs and all the paraphernalia reminding them of past trauma. I welcome the Government’s support for veterans and attempts to provide more services for veterans’ health through NHS England, but that enhanced distress could be stopped by shifting the balance more in favour of regulating firework sales. Alongside that, the well documented effects of excessive firework displays on our pets and animals are saddening. Despite us being a nation of animal lovers, according to the Kennel Club, one in five dogs show signs of distress, and Cats Protection reported that in 2024, 64% of cat owners feel that fireworks have negatively impacted their cats. There is also a serious risk that the current regulations allow the irresponsible use of fireworks. NHS England reported 113 firework-related injuries in 2023-24. Most of those injuries happen at family events and amateur displays, due to the widespread availability of most fireworks. Back in 2020, the chief constable and the chief fire officer for Lancashire, with oversight for part of my constituency, spoke out about introducing regulations similar to those proposed by the petitions, due to police officers having had fireworks launched at them. Our emergency services should be able to go about their lives without fear of being attacked. More recently, police officers had fireworks shot at them in attacks during the riots this summer. One way to clamp down on such extreme attacks on our emergency services would be to reduce the availability of fireworks. We can minimise the impact on our vulnerable groups in society by supporting some of the regulations suggested in the petitions. We should limit the sale of F2 and F3 fireworks to licensed firework shops only, and encourage those wanting to have displays to be recognised as firework-safe handlers and technicians. Against that backdrop, I welcome the public bringing the issue to Parliament. I also welcome the Fireworks Bill proposed by my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North, which would introduce many of the changes we have talked about. I hope that it will get time for debate on the Floor of the Chamber. To conclude, I welcome the Government’s commitment to monitor the situation, and I look forward to hearing the Minister’s comments.

• 26 Nov 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T4. It is nearly eight months since an attack by the Israel Defence Forces on a World Central Kitchen convoy killed seven aid workers, including three Britons: James Henderson, John Chapman and James Kirby. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that their families deserve to see accountability and justice for their deaths?

• 21 Nov 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T6. The key to improved rail performance in my constituency is the reinstatement of rail infrastructure, notably the Burscough curves, alongside improved services to Manchester, where my constituents are also continually let down by Northern Rail. Does the Secretary of State agree that one of the best ways to achieve the high growth that the country needs is to improve those transport connections? Will she meet me to discuss that further?

• 13 Nov 2024 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Q5. Towns like Southport need investment and support after 14 years of decline under the Conservative party. Will the Prime Minister confirm that his Budget will provide that much-needed investment for towns like mine, and that, unlike under the previous Government, my local authority and the public services that my town relies on will finally be properly supported?

• 6 Nov 2024 · Budget Resolutions · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for giving way. Conservative Members have said that they would like to see tax cuts in the Budget, but does she agree that they have not spelled out how they would pay for those tax cuts and which public services and investments they would cut to pay for those cuts?

• 6 Nov 2024 · Budget Resolutions · Hansard source

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  When I stand to speak in this House, I often criticise the former Government, and to be fair, there was a lot to criticise, but Liz Truss at least got one thing right. She claimed to make economic growth the driving force behind her plans, but while Truss took a reckless big-bang approach to tackling the stagnation that this country has experienced since 2010, our focus is on long-term investment, not short-term tax cuts. This speaks to one of many big problems with recent Tory Governments—a problem that any business owner in this country could tell you about. It is all about return on investment. Over the last 14 years, there has been too little return because there has been too little investment. To combat that, we have secured £63 billion in private investment, and we have put £2 billion into electric vehicle development. I note, too, that the UK Space Agency says that the space industry is worth £17 billion a year to our economy. It is no doubt helping to ensure that we get early warning of any new super-massive black holes we might not be aware of. This Budget is the beginning of the change our country voted for. It will make Britain better off; there will be more money in people’s pockets, an NHS that is there when people need it, businesses creating wealth and opportunity for all, the house building that we need, the transport infrastructure that we are crying out for, wages that make work pay, and a state pension that is uprated as it should have been all along. This is a Budget of change, a Budget of investment and growth, a Budget to put more money in working people’s pockets, and a Budget to get our public services back on their feet. It is the most welcome Budget for many years—a Budget in line with the values of the British people. I am proud to support this Labour Budget.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Vocational Training · Hansard source

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  After 14 years of Tory decline, there is much to do in this country to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. A lot of people need jobs to help us achieve that. I am glad that the new Government are working to increase the number of students being trained in the industries of the future, but will the Minister tell us how she is working across Government to make sure that more young people can find those opportunities locally, rather than having to move away from their local communities?

• 4 Nov 2024 · Vocational Training · Hansard source

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  5. What steps she is taking to help increase the number of students undertaking vocational training courses.

• 24 Oct 2024 · Infected Blood Compensation Scheme · Hansard source

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  I welcome the urgency with which this Government have moved this important issue forward, especially now that we know there is a timescale for applications being opened. Will the Minister update the House on when victims can expect to receive their final compensation payments?

• 24 Oct 2024 · Infected Blood Compensation Scheme · Hansard source

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  17. What recent progress he has made on establishing the infected blood compensation scheme.

• 7 Oct 2024 · Jobcentre Plus · Hansard source

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  Will the Minister set out how the proposed merger between Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service will help to tackle economic inactivity and change the way that jobcentres work with their customers?

• 7 Oct 2024 · Jobcentre Plus · Hansard source

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  11. What recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of Jobcentre Plus in helping people get back into work.

• 11 Sept 2024 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Q7. My Southport constituency has experienced a difficult summer. First, I want to reiterate that our thoughts are with the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie, who tragically lost their lives in the attack in July. I welcomed the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary to our town in the weeks that followed and we worked together to find further ways to bring our community together. May I therefore ask the Prime Minister to take this opportunity to recommit to the Government’s support for our town, for those grieving and affected by the tragic attack?

• 5 Sept 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

• 5 Sept 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. This Government were elected on a platform to embed economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity. In the past couple of weeks, I have spoken to colleges and businesses across my Southport constituency, including our rightly famous Silcock’s family entertainment centre, to see how we can develop our skills policy to ensure that for towns such as Southport, the best days lie ahead. How will the Department work to support the next generation of entrepreneurs to ensure that our economic mission is furthered?