Speeches by Paffey.

“I absolutely share my condolences with Junior’s family. I cannot imagine what they will be feeling this week, but I hope this debate will bring forward ideas on how we can prevent drownings. On the suggestion that my hon. Friend made about providing more for our young people to do, it is partly about that, but it also …”

“Thank you, Ms McVey, for your skilful chairing and ensuring that everyone got to have their say. I thank every Member for bringing to life the devastation that drowning causes across this country. We do not and should not accept it as just something else that will rumble on. It is preventable with the right education, …”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered water safety. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship this morning, Ms McVey. I thank the Minister for attending to hear the points to be made. I declare an interest as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on water safety, and I acknowledge the support and co-o…”

“The hon. Member is absolutely right and makes an important point. Following a debate during drowning prevention week last year, I was pleased that it was confirmed that water safety education, including the Royal Life Saving Society’s water safety code, would be added to the national curriculum. We need to see the effe…”

“I am so sorry to hear about that situation. I commend Ren and the many other parents who go far beyond any strength I could ever muster, were this to happen to my family. The hon. Lady is right that they are the most powerful advocates, and we must do more to ensure their voices are heard. In Vanessa’s words, “We live …”

“Less than 48 hours ago the family of Henry Nowak stood on the steps of Southampton Crown court and gave a courageous and dignified statement in which they said: “We want to use Henry’s heartbreaking story to make change for the better. We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. W…”

“3. What assessment he has made of the potential economic impact of the defence growth deal on Northern Ireland.”

“One of the many things I have learned on the excellent armed forces parliamentary scheme with the Navy this year is the importance of UK defence manufacturing for our economy and our national security. In Southampton we have Tekever and Leonardo, and of course in Northern Ireland there is Navy shipbuilding at Harland &…”

“Through the core funding, the additional funding or the funding that you have committed to one way or the other, are you satisfied that you are ensuring that the stock is the best it can be, and that the staff that are needed are there? Again, you can leave some of the independence of the schools to the leadership, and…”

“On the point you just made, Minister, the majority of schools, in whatever form, have a library—something like 86%—but we find that they struggle to resource and staff those libraries. Is the Department willing to commit to making sure that every school not only can have the stock it needs and improve the stock, but em…”

“I thank the Secretary of State for her statement. Henry was a popular and much-loved student at the University of Southampton, and his murder has horrified our city. Both I and my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton Test (Satvir Kaur) commend everyone at the university for their response and their support for the un…”

“I thank the Secretary of State for her statement. Henry was a popular and much-loved student at the University of Southampton, and his murder has horrified our city. Both I and my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton Test (Satvir Kaur) commend everyone at the university for their response and their support for the un…”

“Given that we have found that older age groups are least likely to read for pleasure, is that something that you would acknowledge and recognise? If so, what was the thinking behind focusing most—most of the financial resource, at least—more on primary than secondary?”

“Forgive me if you covered this while I was not here, but you just mentioned secondaries. The School Library Association estimated that for about £15 million, the pledge could be extended to them, so is it your intention to introduce that funding for secondary schools, too?”

“The hon. Gentleman is being incredibly generous with his time. I share his frustration that from the northern parts of Scotland to Southampton, on the south coast, the criteria is completely inadequate. In fact, in its assessment for the Bitterne application, Link included bus times that simply did not exist on any tim…”

“Is that the key model for how you see that working?”

“That would be great. We would really welcome that. Meryl, you just mentioned that that you are looking for booksellers to be more formally involved in the summer reading challenge.”

“Which groups of children are the most and the least likely to engage with libraries? For those who do not engage so much, what are the barriers to those families accessing libraries, and what can we do to reduce them? I will start with Donna.”

“How can all your organisations—authors, publishers and booksellers—support children with special educational needs and disabilities to enjoy reading for pleasure? Meryl, you mentioned one example of a shop that opens early. Are there other things that are being done across the piece?”

“I have two questions, both on the summer reading challenge. Rebecca, the Publishers Association has called for the Government to invest a pound for every child to boost the challenge and to ensure that there is universal access. How should that money be spent? What will get the best bang for the buck?”