Speeches by Madders.

“That was debated in detail in Committee. My understanding is that there will be a floor, but there will not be a ceiling. If I am wrong about that, I will come back to that. We absolutely think that a floor is needed given some of the issues with low pay in this country. Amendments to the adult social care negotiating …”

“I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. I knew as soon as he rose that he would raise the subject of the ceramics industry, such is his record of championing it. I will certainly pass his comments back to the relevant Minister.”

“I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and that is what we are attempting to deliver with our industrial strategy. Engagement with businesses is continuing on that. Publication will, I believe, be in the late spring, and we will ensure that it is a very successful launch. I will draw my comments to a conclusion, but I…”

“First, I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North (Liam Byrne), and indeed the hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway (John Cooper), for securing the debate, and for the work that they do on the Business and Trade Committee. The hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway littered his…”

“Certainly, Mr Twigg. It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair this afternoon. I thank the hon. Member for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe (David Chadwick) for securing this important debate. Before I talk about hon. Members’ contributions, it is worth reminding the House of the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator. Hon. …”

“I hear what the hon. Member has said, and no doubt that is something that can be put in as part of the review. When I spoke to the adjudicator, he said that his approach is about ensuring compliance and helping to prevent problems from escalating in the first place, avoiding the need for formal investigations and dispu…”

“I am delighted to move regulations under the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023, which originated as a private Member’s Bill in the previous Parliament. I therefore pay tribute to Stuart McDonald, the former Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, and Baroness Wyld for successfully steering the legi…”

“I beg to move, That the draft Neonatal Care Leave and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 20 January, be approved.”

“I thank all Members for participating in today’s debate—there have been some very thoughtful and moving contributions. I will start with my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft), who spoke movingly about Isla and her experiences in neonatal care. It was truly wonderful to hear that, having been given a 2% cha…”

“My hon. Friend is right. The impact assessment refers to evidence showing that family-friendly policies are good for employers as well as for individuals. That is certainly the Government’s approach towards employment rights. We have extensively consulted stakeholders, including charities and business representative or…”

“I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025. Noswaith dda, Mrs Harris; it is a pleasure to see you in the Chair. I hope not to detain colleagues long. The regulations, which were laid in draft before the House…”

“I congratulate the shadow Minister on taking a second bite of the cherry on the argument around subscription traps and trade union subscriptions. On the data protection issue, this instrument comes with basically the same safeguards that have always been in place, and that will not change. It is just the legislative en…”

“Obviously we are always keeping an eye on these things and clearly, in particular sectors such as energy, telecoms and financial services, there are measures that those sectors have brought in to make sure that those on low incomes are not prejudiced by particular products being put at a different or a higher price. Ob…”

“Yes, I am, and I have actually asked the Department to look into this issue again. I understand that they did some research a few years ago that indicated that the use of personalised data was quite limited in terms of online sales, and where it was in place it tended to increase prices by only about 0.5%. Instinctivel…”

“We obviously are very supportive of that work. One of the members of the Committee is the chief executive of Citizens Advice, who we fund through the Department. We are also pleased to note that the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute is part of that Committee. It is early days in terms of what it is going to come…”

“At the moment I am thinking quite broadly about the whole consumer landscape. It seems pretty fragmented in terms of how individuals enforce their rights. Obviously, we are hoping that the CMA’s new powers are going to go a long way in terms of delivering that. I know you have picked up the issue with trading standards…”

“I would not agree with that. What we are looking at, particularly in terms of secondary ticking, is a very specific issue that has been a source of frustration for many consumers up and down the country. Clearly it is subject to a level of price inflation that is not really seen in other areas. It is a one-off event th…”

“I would say, Chairman, that the evidence spoke for itself in terms of the questions that were being asked and the answers that were being given. I will be waiting quite interestedly to see what the Committee’s overall conclusions are following that; clearly there is an ongoing investigation as well.”

“Yes we do. I start from the point of view that—to draw an analogy—if someone goes to a supermarket and take something off the shelf that says it costs this much, as a matter of principle I do not think they should then expect it to be a different price at the checkout. Nor should they then to be told that they have 20 …”

“DBT is responsible for the overall framework. The specific areas that you have mentioned are more for those particular Departments in terms of how prices operate.”