Speeches by Atkinson.

“No one I have spoken to in Derby thinks that millionaires should be receiving the winter fuel allowance, but many will welcome the lifting of the threshold so that more people receive it. Does the Minister agree that this shows the Government listening; it shows money being targeted at where it is needed; and it shows …”

“In the east midlands we have been raging for over a decade against the inequality that has left our region at the very bottom when it comes to spending on transport per person, and it has taken a Labour Government to start to put that right and begin to unlock the economic potential and raise living standards. Would my…”

“Lack of work is a key driver of reoffending. Derby medical manufacturing company Pennine Healthcare has some offenders who work for the company on day release, but it is exploring a project to manufacture in prisons, providing skills and potential work on release. Does the Minister agree that, rather than the continuin…”

“Our British fleet of submarines are the most awesome and lethal machines in the world, keeping the peace unseen and unheard below the waves for generations. As my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary said, the power in that punch comes from Derby’s Rolls-Royce workers, who give them their nuclear reactor cores. Will…”

“When I spoke at the Make UK Defence summit in Derby, I met with lots of small and medium-sized businesses in the sector. The issues that they raised with me were echoed during my visit last week to a local composites manufacturer, Pentaxia, including accessing finance to grow and complicated defence procurement process…”

“8. What steps he is taking to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises are able to participate in defence procurement contracts.”

“T4. I met Major Eales and the Derby and Derbyshire Ex-Services Association, who do so much with fellow veterans at events all year round. Following the launch of Operation Valour, will the Minister join me in paying tribute to the work that it and other associations do and tell us what is being done to encourage and re…”

“Is the right hon. and learned Member as concerned as I am that the panel does not even need to consider looking at evidence from family, friends, or those caring for or treating the person? Is he also concerned that although the panel might be required to hear from the person, that will only be in exceptional circumsta…”

“Derby is the centre of the largest rail cluster in Europe—an east midlands cluster employing 45,000 people. There is an incredible range of roles in the sector, from engineering to driving, digital to welding, advanced manufacturing to customer services, and many more. However, with a third of workers in the rail secto…”

“3. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that workers have necessary skills for the rail sector.”

“My hon. Friend will know that we have some incredible youth services in Derby. He has mentioned some, but there is also the local YMCA, the Derby Youth Alliance and DE23 Active. Does he agree that it is disgraceful how many other services have closed because of Tory austerity cuts?”

“We have youth concession schemes, but it varies from provider to provider and it can be quite difficult to navigate. I appreciate the return to local decision making and how important that is, but our young people have to access school and college. Is there something different that is not about local choice and much mo…”

“I have had young people and families say how hard it can be to cover the bus fare to get to college or school. Has the Department considered reviewing policies around concessionary fares to offer more consistent support for young people in education and low-income work?”

“I think this has been covered, but it is about consistency of data. If different providers are giving slightly different data, it is just not usable. In your plan for one central data sharing, would it require the same data from everyone?”

“Do you think more could be done in the guidance that the Department gives in enabling local transport authorities to make those decisions, but with greater direction from the Department?”

“Does protecting what we already have go far enough, when the aim is to improve it?”

“Does the requirement need to go further, identifying not just existing services but those that do not currently exist?”

“The requirement seems to apply only to existing services. For places like East Midlands, where we have seen 60% of our routes cut, how are you going to take the next step, measuring gaps where a service is socially necessary but does not exist?”

“We have heard evidence that the Bill is a bit vague about what socially necessary means. What do you think can be done to ensure that everyone knows what it means?”

“Can I bring us back to socially necessary services? The buses Bill will require transport authorities to identify socially necessary services within their enhanced partnerships. In what ways do you think that that requirement will improve bus services?”