Speeches by Hinchliff.

“My hon. Friend has criticised the proposal for citizens’ assemblies, saying that we should have the confidence to make political judgments in this House for the future of our water companies. Will she explain why she supports having an independent water commission but does not support the proposal for citizens’ assembl…”

“Do Ministers agree that a logical conclusion of the Darzi report is that the national care service that we are committed to creating must be free at the point of use? As Lord Darzi found, as long as the social care system remains means-tested and the NHS is a universally free service, unmet care needs will continue to …”

“The hon. Lady eloquently highlights the importance of this campaign. I wholeheartedly agree with her. The benefits system available to parents in these situations leaves a gaping hole for the families of seriously ill children, who find themselves with nowhere to turn, grappling with financial ruin, growing debt or the…”

“I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. I encourage the Minister to reflect on the fact that all the evidence we hear from It’s Never You shows that this very real problem is impacting families right across the country. The systems that are in place were not designed to accommodate the urgent and unpredictable nature o…”

“I agree that we should commend such charities. The hon. Gentleman shows moral clarity in rightly saying that the Government have an obligation to support families going through this incredibly difficult time. Research shows that all the factors I have described mean that families are on a difficult footing even before …”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered financial support for parents caring for seriously ill children. It is a pleasure to speak under your chairship, Ms Jardine. I begin by paying tribute to my constituents Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis, who are in the Public Gallery today. Their tireless advocacy, following th…”

“I agree that the gaping hole in our benefits system is devastating for families. My hon. Friend once again highlights how incredibly important it is that the Government resolve this as a matter of urgency. Over 80% of surveyed families experienced a significant decline in household finances due to their child’s illness…”

“The origin of Britain’s planning system is as deeply rooted in the legacy of the post-war Labour Government as that of the national health service and the welfare state. Like those great Labour institutions, it has faced relentless underfunding, attacks and dismantling from the Conservatives, who prioritise the rights …”

“I completely agree. The Government need to deliver a coherent vision for development in this country that matches the clarity and boldness of Labour’s 1947 vision, putting democratic control and social justice back at the heart of the planning system. First, we must contend with the fact that more than 1.2 million home…”

“Will Ministers consider exercising the community electricity right within the Infrastructure Act 2015 to require commercial renewable energy developers to offer communities the opportunity to part-own schemes developed in their area?”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that the implicit argument of Ministers in this debate—that they would rather spend the money on other issues—is producing an incredibly slippery slope when it comes to delivering justice for Government maladministration? Does she agree that it gives the impression that we might be moving towa…”

“Will the Minister give way?”

“I have also been contacted by concerned and impacted farmers in North East Hertfordshire. Will the Minister assure me that, for the remainder of this Parliament, the revamped SFI that he alluded to will allow farmers to plan seasons ahead, as they need to?”

“Research has found that the cost of presenteeism to the private sector in mental ill health alone is £24 billion a year. Does my hon. Friend agree that shows that reforming our statutory sick pay is the most pro-prosperity, pro-productivity policy that we can pursue?”

“School staff in North East Hertfordshire work tirelessly in dilapidated facilities to support students with special educational needs while parents face absurdly long journeys to reach specialist schools, and in the meantime the old Roysia school site in Royston lies vacant. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the sch…”

“I intend to make a short contribution on one particular aspect of political funding that I believe is especially corrosive to faith in democracy in our country. Across North East Hertfordshire, from Buntingford to Thundridge, local communities have worked hard to create local neighbourhood plans that are pragmatic but …”

“What do you see as the main barriers for Ofgem in being able to verify that biomass is sustainable, especially if consignments continue to be self-reported under the new system?”

“Will it be the second half of this year? Can I push you? No.”

“To return to monitoring and enforcement, Mr Brearley, I am not actually sure I got an answer to the question on whether the shipment Ofgem identified as misreported was part of Drax’s sustainable biomass programme. Will you continue to accept Drax’s voluntary sustainability certification as a proxy for Government susta…”

“I want to follow up one final time on the points we have been discussing. You have referred, Mr Brearley, several times to the 70/30 threshold. Drax’s self-certification scheme certifies 98% of its current sourcing as sustainable. It has taken an investigative journalist to identify that there is a problem there. We ha…”