Speeches by Platt.

“Thank you, Chair. Good morning. There are lots of Government changes and reforms to the planning system, especially in reducing the barriers and consultees, such as Sport England and the Theatres Trust, rather than adding requirements. Tim, what reception have you had to the recommendation of making the national planni…”

“What facilities and designs would you like to see adopted in new developments?”

“Anne, is there anything else that you could add?”

“Paul has mentioned this, but I want to ask you specifically, Tim, whether parents’ concerns about the risk of playing outside and away from home are overblown?”

“You just made me reminisce then, Tim, about my playing out days.”

“Thank you, Chair. Good morning. There are lots of Government changes and reforms to the planning system, especially in reducing the barriers and consultees, such as Sport England and the Theatres Trust, rather than adding requirements. Tim, what reception have you had to the recommendation of making the national planni…”

“Rather than just planning—again, this is to you, Tim—what needs to happen to reverse the decline in mobility of children that we have seen over the decades?”

“Anne, is there anything else that you could add?”

“I refer Members to my declaration in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. The fight to rebuild trust in politics must begin in our communities. In Leigh and Atherton, people want to feel proud of the place that they call home. They want visible investment and the power to shape their future, and that is why I …”

“I thank the Secretary of State wholeheartedly for that response, and I agree with her. Because of the lack of action from the last Government, 26.6% of children in Leigh and Atherton are living in poverty. I welcome the measures that this Government are taking, including the extension of free school meals, but more nee…”

“17. What steps she is taking to reduce the number of children in poverty in Leigh and Atherton constituency.”

“Are there plans to introduce social prescribing? Are you having those conversations?”

“I will go to Minister Peacock with a separate question. How are you facilitating that greater collaboration within government to ensure that all the different Departments involved in the facilitation of sport and physical activity are making collective decisions? We know about social prescribing, justice, and we obviou…”

“Still focusing on the co-ordination into communities, we have heard lots of evidence about having a postcode lottery of where it works well. I can say that my constituency has a fantastic school. We have two elite superstars who came out of that school, Keely Hodgkinson and Ella Toone, and fantastic clubs that they con…”

“I will declare an interest: I managed a cultural asset—a grade II* listed mill—during my sabbatical years before I was re-elected. I am not going to speak about my woes and challenges, which I very much recognise from your answers. Josh, how will the removal of Theatres Trust as a statutory planning consultee impact yo…”

“Why do you think that is?”

“Michael, you wanted to follow on from that.”

“No, exactly. Josh, you mentioned that Sport England is advocating for a more refined consultee role. Have you considered specific ways to reform rather than remove your role?”

“We are talking about the Theatres Trust but, as Michael has alluded to, this applies to the whole of the creative and cultural sector.”

“We will look forward to receiving that. The Government are proposing this because of councils’ and developers’ frustrations with the consultee system. What other improvements can be made? Have you any further suggestions?”