Speeches by Hobhouse.

“If we are all wanting the same thing, who is not wanting it? What is the barrier? Is it Ofgem or National Grid? Who is against it?”

“And if the smart meters work. We had a big session on smart meters.”

“We have already touched on some of this in the previous session, and that is around consumer-led demand systems and how the Government are ambitious to increase this. I was also at a meeting with ADA, the Association of Decentralised Energy, and talked about the benefits that you, Mary, have just been talking about, in…”

“How do you measure that?”

“Do you think they have a role in the Government’s mission to achieve 8 GW of power from communities?”

“Yes, and you want to come in, but I want to continue with other questions.”

“This is to everybody. Does the requirement for everything to be connected under the same primary substation not limit the potential to replicate this at scale and apply it to larger renewables? Mary, you have already spoken about this. Steve can go first, and then I will go along the line.”

“Do you have one short comment, since we need to move on?”

“Let us move on to the next question about complexity of local energy clubs. Again to Benedict, we have heard that the regulatory and administrative complexity of setting up local energy clubs limits their future potential. First of all, do you agree, and how would you respond to this criticism?”

“Stephen, would you say that the licence exemptions have very narrow criteria and therefore were not designed to support community energy, but, as we heard, hospitals or other arrangements? Therefore, should there be a more bespoke solution?”

“Steve, do you have anything to add?”

“It is important that we stress that an eating disorder is not a terminal illness and therefore should not fall under that legislation. I know that the hon. Gentleman and I agree on that; I think we disagree on his worries about how it would be treated, practically, in the future. An eating disorder is not a terminal il…”

“I totally agree. Unfortunately, there is a massive postcode lottery. Services need to improve across the country so that everybody, like my hon. Friend’s constituent, can get the treatment they need as close to home as possible, because carers are so important, and so that families can see their loved ones. In the last…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered eating disorder awareness. It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Stuart. Eating disorders are among the most serious and life-threatening of all mental illnesses, but they have been overlooked and underfunded for too long. Because of this, they have one of the…”

“rose—”

“Thank you, Sir Jeremy, for calling me to speak. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Helen Maguire) on securing this Westminster Hall debate. The Government have set ambitious targets to tackle violence against women and girls, but those goals will not be achieved without addressing relationshi…”

“First, thank you Mr Stuart for chairing your first Westminster Hall debate so well; you kept us in order and on time. I thank all Members for their wide-ranging, thoughtful and moving contributions. Sharing our stories can raise awareness, but it takes a lot of courage. As we have heard, eating disorders do not discrim…”

“The Minister is making a powerful point. Demand is surging, yet it seems that investment from ICBs is going to fall. How can that be possible, and how is it morally acceptable?”

“I congratulate the hon. Member on being so brave in talking about his own experience. I, too, have a daughter who suffered from an eating disorder; she was not quite as ill as he describes his daughter being, but I am still visited by those hours—though they were many years ago—when I was gripped by fear and anxiety. I…”

“Women cycle a lot less than men—71% of women do not cycle, compared with 54% of men. Safety concerns are the main barrier. That gender gap is not acceptable. What are the Government doing to address that?”