27/06/2017 House of Commons

people across this country take him all the Liberal Democrats seriously.

Skills education... Or actually have a vision for technical education

that centred an actual technical education. And those some way to

addressing the issue of skills shortages in specific areas. To me,

this seems like a missed opportunity. I'm delighted to see

that grammar schools appear to be off the table for the moment, but I

wonder if the new coalition will bring this back into discussions

with the Government. I wait to see what will happen on that front. I'll

finish by pointing out that Scotland, regardless of the

Secretary of State's comments earlier, Scotland is the most

educated nation... Sorry, it is one of the most educated in Europe. With

only Luxembourg having more people educated to tertiary level. In

Scotland, we provide routes to higher education. Through our

further education. Maybe the new members on the Tory benches might

learn something if they stopped shouting. In Scotland. Back in

Scotland we provide routes to higher education through further education.

Many of our young people from disadvantaged backgrounds take full

advantage of this. Numbers are not captured in the UCAS figures that

the Secretary of State enjoys referring to. So maybe... I will, of

course. And grateful to the honourable lady because she still

has not answered the Western, why is it in Scotland, a contrast to

England, the number of students from less advantaged backgrounds going to

university has plateaued, and why is it that because of their tuition

fees policy that Scottish students find getting reasonably difficult to

find a place in Scottish universities and having to come to

England and study at in which universities instead? Maybe the

honourable member missed what I have literally just said. When we

consider alternative routes into higher education through further

education colleges, more young people in Scotland from

disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education than anywhere else

in the UK. And I'll just... Just to conclude, it was interesting that

the Secretary of State referred to a ?2 billion black hole in the Labour

Party's costings of higher education. Maybe I could just finish

by saying that I can point out to the Secretary of State in ?1.5

billion fund appears to have become available only yesterday. Brexit is

now a serious threat for our higher education, our research and our

science community. We need to be taking major steps now to ensure

that this is protected through all the Gushue shins. Order -- through

all negotiations. In order to accommodate as many members as

possible, I'm now going to impose a time limit of five minutes. It

mainly to be brought down even further later in the debate. But for

now, it will be five minute. Maria Miller. Mr Deputy Speaker, at the

heart of giving every citizen an opportunity to succeed is access to

the best education. I commend the Secretary of State for the very

clear vision she has set out to beg that the Government is following to

make sure that education remained at the heart of this Government's

social mobility policy. Because schools, good schools, are the

engine of social mobility, and we should never, ever forget that. I

have to say, I take flight issue with the honourable member for

Ashton-under-Lyne sitting on the front bench opposite, because I have

to say, we had to wait till a Conservative government in my

constituency to get record Lovell of investment, we didn't get it on the

label. So critical to the role of good schools in social mobility is

that they are delivering academic excellence. And again, it is good to

hear from the Secretary of State talking about our education system,

which is now on a par with the best in the world in terms of what it is

delivering academically. I would urge her to make sure that she

stresses that as being the top of the agenda for every headteacher in

this country, regardless of the area that they are in. Now, rhyme is my

right honourable friend the member for Bognor Regis has done a

tremendous job in making sure that academic excellence is being

translated into a reality to our curriculum and through the fog is

this Goverment's had on the use of phonics to make sure that we got

away from the unacceptable situation where one in three young people were

leaving primary school without the basic ability to be able to read, to

now having far higher standards. And when I go into my local primary

schools, like one I went into recently, to see the inspiration

that young people are getting from their teachers, because they are

being able to read fluently much earlier. The other part of the

Goverment's focus on academic excellence has been the introduction

of the E back. I was pleased to see the new schools network report

earlier this year which laid to rest some of the The Miz around the

introduction of this, -- some of the myths. A piece of really excellent

research that was done earlier this year showed that whilst John people

were able to be able to focus on English, maths, science, languages,

history and drug-free -- whilst young people. They will also -- and

geography. An important thing for us to continue to do as a country,

because the creative industries really are world renowned, we need

to make sure that is going to continue into the future. Mr Deputy

Speaker, I won't go in to any detail on the importance of the other part

of the curriculum that the Government will be bringing forward

in this session, which is, as I touched on earlier, relationship and

sex education. Albeit to say that I look forward to hopefully hearing

more about how that will be developed with the import of the

very expert group that advised me as we put forward our recommendations

through the children social work well. The Secretary of State touched

on technical education and the importance of parity of esteem. Can

I congratulate the Government on the work that it has done through the

technical sector to provide supported internships for some of

the most challenged young people in this country who have special

educational needs. I was privileged just last week to go into my own

local college to celebrate the first anniversary of supported internships

through the college, working with local employers, giving young people

with a learning disability the opportunity to get the sort of work

experience, support and work experience, that will make an

enormous difference to the rest of their lives. School funding is

clearly probably the final point I'm going to be able to touch on in

these short remarks. Hampshire is the third lowest educational fund

and County in the country. We need to see the changes the Secretary of

State was going to bring forward, which would mean ?40 million extra

funding for our county to try and put right some of the inequities

that have built up in the past. In Basingstoke, 90% of our primary

schools are good or outstanding. We have 1300 new primary school places

that are going to be put into place, more than ?30 billion of extra

investment going in. But we need that Sarah funding to ensure these

historic inequities are dealt with. -- Sarah funding. Thank you very

much, Mr Deputy Speaker. Can I welcome all colleagues back to this

House and the many new colleagues, many of whom will want to give their

maiden speeches today. Can I welcome the Secretary of State, who only

just got here by the skin of her teeth I think in that election. Can

I just say, though, the Prime Minister called this election to

offer the country strong and stable leadership, and what has been left

is a complete and utter mess for this country. An indictment of a

terrible general election campaign, but also I think a reflection of

their time in Government. And undoubtedly, one of the key issues

in this election was that school funding, and more latterly I think

of her police and security services as well. They highlighted similar

concerns, which is the public offered up to the back teeth of cuts

to vital public services, things that they feel are precious to them,

with the same rhetoric coming from this Government. The school gates

campaign I think was a particularly successful path, an effective part

of this general election campaign. I want to pay tribute to the head

teachers, to the unions, to the staff and others for their work in

highlighting these issues over many months. I have to say, I think it's

pretty pathetic of Conservative MPs opposite to blame headteachers for

their losing constituency seats at this election. Does the honourable

lady regret, if parents were inadvertently left with the

impression that funding for stores might be cut, I mean, the degree of

my constituency where we were going to see an overall increase in

schools funding, yet that wasn't nurses are always the message that

came up from her party -- wasn't necessarily the message. The

exchanges that we saw earlier today reflect those exchanges that we saw

in the election, which is that the party opposite have their fingers in

their ears about the fact of the matter of the situation. Let's just

go through some of the facts of the matter. Which is, before we even get

into the fair funding formula, every single is cool in this country will

lose between 8% and 9% of their budget over the course of this

Parliament -- every single school. Because costs have gone up. So while

the Government say they are protecting budgets, they are not

protecting them in real terms. So even the winners, even the winners

out of the fair funding formula will stall blues 3% of their budgets. And

the losers under the fair funding formula will actually lose over 11%

of their budget. Every single school in the country losers. The party

opposite still have their fingers in ears after the general election

disaster that they have just overseen. So they are the facts of

the matter, and I do not blame a single headteacher foretelling --

foretelling the parents about that matter, they should blame

themselves. Those cuts mean that headteachers are having to make some

unpalatable cuts to their school budgets, they are having to cut back

on teachers, teaching us is that is, they are having to cut back on

school trips and extracurricular activities.

That is why at the general election, parents around the country said,

enough is enough. Perhaps that is why the polling has shown that since

the election, nearly 750,000 people have said they would change the way

they voted in that general election because of cuts to school funding.

Perhaps it is time the government actually started to listen. I don't

think assisting with the failed lies they use during the election

campaign will cut it. It is about time the Secretary of State used her

reappointment to go to the Chancellor, go to the Prime Minister

and say, she needs to find the money to meet the shortfall. This is a

funding crisis and she needs to deal with it quickly. Having dug

themselves in on school funding, they found themselves in the same

rhetorical malaise when it came to police resources as they took centre

stage in this election. I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute

to the Greater Manchester Police for their response to the Manchester

terror attacks. I want to pay tribute to Manchester City can whose

response was exemplary and in fact, the Holst city. As the secretary of

state said earlier, to the teachers, head teachers and staff in the

schools who supported many children who I know, having been at that

concert that evening, went and did their GCSE exams the next day. They

did a great job. But the current plans to cuts in police numbers are

too much for Greater Manchester Police to bear. They are

unsustainable levels of cuts. That is why the Chief Constable of

Greater Manchester Police have asked the government for urgent extra

resources to find 800 police officers and I hope the government

can find the money from somewhere to find this extra resource. Because

the new threats our country now faces, we need these extra

resources. And again, the Tory arrogance and inflexibility during

the campaign meant police got were undoubtedly another vote loser. So

what an irony it is that the Tories have now managed to find ?1 billion

from their magic monetary for their grubby deal with the DUP. Have they

perhaps found that many a few weeks ago for schools and police, perhaps

they would almost certainly had a bigger majority here today and maybe

they will finally now learn some of those lessons of that election. Can

I finally say, it is not all bad news because one good thing to come

out of the selection, and I know the Secretary of State will share this

view of me, is the end to the bringing back of grammar schools. I

know she wasn't all that keen on that herself. I am sure she will

welcome that. I would urge her and her government to learn the right

lessons of this election and make sure public services and education

have the funding they need to go forward. Although I know she wasn't

able to stay for the rest of the debate because she had an urgent

meeting, I was pleased to see the Minister of taking her place, the

former deputy Chief Whip which will make a great addition to the team. I

am pleased to follow the speech from the honourable lady from the SNP.

While she was on her feet the First Minister caved in and accepted there

won't be a referendum on Scottish independence until after Brexit.

Wiping credit should go to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the

Opposition in Scotland, who I think share the credit for having helped

save our union, which is incredibly important. It is also a great

pleasure to follow the honourable lady for Manchester Central, who, in

her five minutes, I think spent a great deal of money and didn't spend

a single second explaining how our economy can generate the money to

spend on our important public services, which is what I am going

to spend my remarks on now. First of all, it is incredibly important that

we remain living within our means. Countries that don't live within

their means fined over time, they can't pay for those important public

services, which is why it is worth reminding the House, when we came

into office in 2010, the deficit was 10% and we were spending ?150

billion more than we were bringing in tax revenue. By the time of the

election we had reduced the cash deficit by 70% and reduced the

deficit of in the economy by three quarters. The debt will stop falling

as a percentage of GDP from this period. I have to say to the front

bench who are laughing, since they opposed every single spending cut we

made, the deficit down the debt would have been incredibly higher if

they had been in government. One of the things we hear from the

opposition, they say living within your means didn't work. Actually,

the important things on growth and jobs demonstrated it did. Between

2010 and 2016, out of the G-7 countries, we grew second only to

the United States of America. Almost twice as fast as France. In 2014, we

were the fastest growing G-7 country, joint top in 2015 and the

fastest-growing in 2016. What does that mean for jobs, opportunities

for young people when they leave? There are 3 million more people in

work than in 2010, a record high employment rate, a better

performance than in the G-7, the ODs CD and almost double the performance

from our colleagues in the Eurozone. And for young people particularly in

Britain, when we came to power, the unemployment rate for young people

was just under 20%, same rate as the European Union and the euro era. I

understand the honourable gentleman is making a point about youth

unemployment, but would he agree that it is scandalous that the work

of a young person is so undervalued by the party opposite, the living

wage doesn't kick in until you are 25. Why is it right that a young

person doing a job should be paid less than a counterpart who is over

25? To do with skills and experience. If you come straight

from school into a job, you do have to have some training, skills and

experiences. If the honourable gentleman talk to businesses in his

constituency it would be interesting to ask them how someone straight

from school with no experience and no skills should be paid ?10 an

hour. I think you would find either that young person wouldn't get the

opportunity or the business wouldn't be viable. If he doesn't believe me,

go and talk to some of those businesses, that is what they will

tell him. Coming back to the employment performance, when we were

elected, the unemployment rate for young people was as bad as it was in

the Eurozone. Seven years later, the euro area, unemployment is up. In

Britain, under a Conservative led government, it is down 6%. There are

millions of young people who have the opportunity and the social

mobility that is generated, by having a job. Either when they leave

university or when they leave school, college and train in an

apprenticeship. Even more impressively, despite what the

Leader of the Opposition keeps saying, which is untrue, over a

period of time we have been in power, income inequality has fallen.

The country has become more equal, not less equal and I think that says

a lot about the opportunities this party will always deliver in

government, making those opportunities for young people and

giving them the chance to succeed. My right honourable friend is making

a good point. In Gloucestershire we have seen a rapid rise in the number

of apprenticeships, 7000 in Gloucester alone over the last seven

years and does he support another opportunity and it is the technical

college serving Archimedes and beyond. Before the Speaker let the

chair he did say opportunities had to be brief if you find yourself

using the word and is, in means you are making one point to many. My

honourable friend has led successful job fairs and apprenticeships in

Gloucester and my honourable friend from Cheltenham has made sure we can

bring a cyber training centre in the Cheltenham to bring in extra

opportunities for young people in the future. The final point I wanted

to make was to touch briefly on local services and particularly

social care. Perhaps the part of social care we don't talk about. Too

often when we talk about social care we only talk about social care for

older people. I want to remind ministers almost half of social care

spending in England is spent on working age people between 18 and

24. That is incredibly important to make sure those people can be

independent, have the opportunity to work and we need to think about how

we will fund that? It cannot be funded in the same weight as older

people. The Jungle people will not have accumulated assets. If you have

means testing, it sets up another barrier to work. He will know our

manifesto pledge to get 1 million more disabled people into work and

declaring an interest I want to make sure we get people with learning

disabilities to have the opportunities to get into work and

succeed in the years to come. I have the Minister will bear that in mind

as the Minister makes his plans going forward. The only thing I

regret about our record is we didn't talk about it in during the election

campaign. But we have, the Leader of the Opposition would not have got

away with his irresponsible, overspending manifesto that would

have bankrupted our country and I am glad the people of Britain saw

through it and return this government to office where we will

continue delivering for Britain as we have done over the last seven

years on a record of which we can be proud. The Prime Minister has

enjoyed a torrid few weeks. She has gone from Wonder Woman to the joker

in one spectacular electoral fall. We see her diminishing authority and

how government's ability to govern. Apart from the preparations for

implementing our exit from the EU, for which of the country didn't

vote, and which is a major cause of division in Britain today, there is

little to it. There is to be no legislative programme at all next

year. When Prime Minister at the apogee of their power, immediately

after a general election writes the Queen's Speech, it should be about

big policies and ideas that will take the nation forward and improve

lives. This one is more about what the government whips think they can

get away with and limit the damage to our economy, future prospects and

international influence following the UK's vote to leave the EU.

Something the Prime Minister herself doesn't believe in and didn't vote

for. I want to discuss what she could have done in the Queen's

Speech to help my constituents. Keeping them safe from gun crime and

educating children. The Merseyside Police have faced a cut in their

resource of ?87 million since 2010 and on current government plans, are

being forced to cut another 18 million and. They have lost a

quarter of their stuff, more than 1000 officers and personnel and are

due to lose 540 more. The challenge and is they face are greater but

neighbourhood policing is largely gone. The matrix unit which tackle

organised crime successfully on Merseyside has gone as a single

unit. But Merseyside we are facing a surge in gun crime which has seen

over 100 shootings in the last 18 months, including five murders. The

Chief Constable blames the impact of these cuts for the increasingly

reactive policing his force is having to adopt as a replacement for

the highly successful proactive policing for which they are so

well-known. There are more guns circulating, the side and the injury

rate in firearms incidents is up 50% from 33% so the incidents are

becoming more serious and the community safety initiatives

Liverpool City Council and Knowsley Borough Council provided to divert

young people from involvement, have dwindled away for lack of money

because Liverpool City Council has lost 50% of its resorts, rising to

68% in three years and Knowsley will have lost 56% at the end of another

three years. In January I wrote to the then policing Minister seeking a

meeting about this worrying increase in gun crime and it took place on

the 9th of February. You are at it, Mr Deputy Speaker. Bobo than Police

Minister didn't bother to turn up, were assured by the undersecretary,

a bid for resources would be considered sympathetically. The

Chief Constable has revealed that bid has been turned down but I

haven't had the courtesy of a letter from ministers following up on the

meeting from the 9th of February or a letter explaining why the bid has

been rejected. Something I think is disgraceful. The Chief Constable has

said, have I got sufficient resource to do with gun crime? Know I

haven't. If I had more stuff, would I put them to deal with gun crime?

Yes I would. There is no academic A-level

provision within the borough of Knowsley, part of which is in my

constituency, the rest of it is indoors, sir. Young people have to

leave the Borough to access opportunities that should be readily

available for every child in their own local community. In areas like

South Liverpool and Howard, there is a constant battle to increase

education and attainment. The Queen's speech could have sought to

do something about that, but it does not. It doesn't guarantee that no

school will have its budget cut, as the Tory manifesto said it would do.

I have been asking local headteachers what the new funding

formula will mean for their schools. Some have already cut teachers and

support staff, one school has lost 26% of its teaching staff, others

the redundancies next year as inevitable. Schools are cutting back

on the curriculum, one has removed drama, and cut back on modern

foreign-language is and music. All of paying for shared services that

they once got from Liverpool City Council such as family support

services. Others are forced to parents for money even to make their

budgets work. This is a catastrophe that will further disadvantage those

who will face barriers. This Queen's speech will do nothing to help my

constituents who need to be safe from gun all who want their George

Hunter have a fair chance of education. It is the last desperate

effort to have a government cling on to office and we are going to make

sure that it doesn't. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker I'm delighted to

follow the honourable member and thank her for her contribution. I

have had the great privilege of representing the city of Aberdeen,

its communities and its people over the last five years. First as a

councillor, and then as a member of the Scottish Parliament for the

Northeast region. And I am truly humbled and honoured that the people

of Aberdeen South have placed their trust, faith and confidence in me to

represent them in this very special place. I give an unwavering

commitment to my constituents that no matter which party you voted for,

if you voted at all, I will work hard for all of you, and I will work

tirelessly to make Aberdeen's voice heard. The people of Aberdeen South

in 2014 voted overwhelmingly to stay within the UK, and at this election,

they have sent the clearest possible message that they do not want a

second independence referendum, and although the First Minister may have

posed her plans, she failed to take it off the table. The people in my

constituency want divisions in our country to be healed, not

exacerbated. That is why the First Minister must get back to her day

job of improving our schools, hospitals, and supporting our

economy to grow. Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank my

predecessors for their contributions to this place. For the last two

years, Calum a? Presented Aberdeen South with enthusiasm and energy. I

first met Calum when we were elected to Aberdeen City Council, and at

that time, his friendly, helpful advice was greatly appreciated. He

is extraordinarily capable, and I have no doubt he will continue to

contribute to Scottish public life, and I genuinely wish him all of the

best for his future. It would also be remiss of me if I did not pay

tribute to Dame Anne Begg, who represented the constituency for 18

years with dignity and compassion. Her tireless and passionate advocacy

for the rights of disabled people helped improve the quality-of-life

are many people across our country. Now, Aberdeen is a global city with

a global reputation. No -- known the world over as the oil capital of

Europe and a centre of excellence for technology. Aberdeen has long

made it contribution to the prosperity of the UK and is the

engine room of Scotland's economy. However, there is far more to

Aberdeen than just oil and gas. Its beauty is unparalleled when it's

wonderful sculpted granite buildings sparkle in the sun, when we get to

see the sun, that is! Aberdeen is a vibrant city, which is also alive

with culture, music and the arts. My constituency takes in the West End,

communities such as Queen's Cross and Ferryhill, and incorporates

those tightly knit communities of Seafield and others. But the

constituency stretches further westwards, following the mighty

River Dee. In the south, it includes golf team and along to the coastal

settlement. And the iconic lighthouse built in 1813. Mr Deputy

Speaker, I want to thank you for allowing me to speak in this debate.

I want to thank my constituents for electing me to this place. And I

look forward to being a strong voice for them here. And I would like to

conclude my remarks with the city of Aberdeen's toast, which is, happy to

meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again on a court. Thelma Walker.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I'm so honoured to be here to deliver my

maiden speech as a member of Parliament for Kovari. -- Po Valley.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor

for his work for the constituency over the past seven years, and I

wish him well for the future. The beautiful valleys which are my home

holds an important place in Labour's radical history. And they are

closely associated with them moderates, chartists and

suffragettes. It is in fact the oldest Labour constituency in the

country, and celebrates its 126th birthday next month. One of our

greatest and wisest prime ministers, Harold Wilson, was raised less than

a mile from my home. And he attended local schools. His words when he

spoke about the Labour Party... This party is a moral crusade, or it is

nothing. They ring so true for me now as a by newly elected Labour MP.

More recently, the honourable Lord David Park and Kali Mountford have

served as outstanding representatives of my community. The

beautiful Pennine landscape, which many of you saw as the Tour de

France cyclists scaled the heights, is something to be proud of. But it

is not just the place, but the people, that makes Colne Valley so

distinctive. It is about their creativity, compassion, and dry wit.

My constituency has a rich diversity with a vibrant Asian community.

Since the Second World War, such diversity has enriched our economy

and our culture. As a former teacher and head teacher, I took part in the

Kirklees schools twinning project, where black Muslim children and

white working-class children shared lessons, food and play. Those

children saw no difference in colour or faith, but just enjoyed French

ship and the joy of each other's company. Such an experience reminds

me of Wordsworth's words, the child is father of the man. In these

testing times of terrorism and radicalisation, young children can

give many adults the lessons of forgiveness, tolerance and

compassion. Within the discussion and debate about what is a good

school, my experience in education and of how children learn and thrive

tells me that a culture of targets and tests does not result in a

happy, clever or creative child. A whole child approach which cares for

the emotional, physical and intellectual well-being is needed.

Our own head of Ofsted has recently spoken about the need for an

education which meets the child's needs, not the school's targets.

Colne Valley has some of the best schools and six form colleges in the

country. The professionals who work there deserve to be supported

through adequate funding and ownership of a broad and balanced

curriculum. Huddersfield University has just been awarded gold standard

for teaching, and leads our area's economic and cultural success. We

are well proud of our flagship university. As a country, our media

and creative arts are the envy of the world. And in our own Colne

Valley, we have hosted filming for Last Tango In Halifax, happy Valley,

and other peak-time popular programmes. Our valleys are vibrant

with creativity, and we have a vision for not just a Northern

Powerhouse, but, more specifically, a Colne Valley powerhouse. Leading

in technology, culture and arts initiatives. The vision for the

valleys is real, but the cuts to our local services are impacting on the

most vulnerable in our communities, and will make the vision harder to

achieve. Having taught in one of the most deprived areas of the country,

I know the impact of poverty on a child's physical, intellectual and

emotional well-being. I know the child he won't let go of my hand at

the end of the day because there's no heating on at home or food in the

fridge. Cuts to our local front line services are hurting our children,

and devastating the most vulnerable in our communities. I am committed

to campaigning for appropriate funding for our schools, our

hospitals, and our local services. Such services are Colne Valley

people's right, and not a privilege. On a personal note, I'm so glad to

see the increased number of women MPs seeded in this chamber. I do

hope, however, that when my granddaughter, Iris, who is four

years old, reaches maturity, she will not view it is unusual for

there to be a majority of women MPs fairly representing the population

of our country. I'm also delighted that we now have... Thank you, Mr

Deputy Speaker. It is a pleasure to follow two accomplished main

speeches and it is a sadness because of the time restraints that honorary

members do not have enough time to talk. I thought both of them were

very polished, accomplished, witty and gracious contributions, and both

will be great advocates for their respective considers. The honourable

lady I'm sure will be no Luddite in the way she will represent her

constituents. And my new honourable friend for Aberdeen South, one of 12

new Scottish Conservative honourable friends, I'm delighted to say, will

be a great advocate for the people of Aberdeen and the majority of the

people of Scotland who want to stay in the union that we value so much.

Much has been said in this Queen's speech about what is not in this

green speech. Can I break a habit and actually talk about things that

are actually in this Queen's speech? I certainly commend the eight Brexit

bills where we will have many opportunities to talk long into the

night, so I won't go into any detail here. I will however praise the

inclusion of the domestic violence and abuse bill. A subject which the

Prime Minister in particular has long championed, and on which I

think the record of this Government is second to none, and I

particularly hope we make progress on the disproportionate number of

young women who are the victims of domestic abuse, some 12% of young

women aged 16-19 were victims of domestic abuse in the last two

years. There is a prevalence of domestic abuse within teenage

relationships. It is an intergenerational light. It affects

so many young women in particular, where they were brought up in

households where domestic violence was the norm, and they therefore

expect, well, that's what'll happen to them, isn't it? Well, it isn't,

it mustn't, and we need legislation, and a much greater vigilance to

drive domestic abuse wherever it occurs. And I've seen as a former

Children's Minister the impact it has an child abuse as well. Nearly

always linked with some form of domestic boilers. I welcome the

inclusion in this Queen's speech. Also, I talk about mental health.

Approximately 200,000 young people are referred to specialist mental

health services. It is often too late and too much of the additional

funds this government has dedicated the two Mental Health Act don't end

up going to deal with mental illness issues, particularly for young

people. We have a lot more to do on this area and I am pleased the Prime

Minister flagged up as a priority at the beginning of the election

campaign. I want to give my main focus on the school situation and in

particularly, fair funding of schools. It was probably the

largest, single issue in my constituency. West Sussex is the

worst funded counted authority in the country, where people in my

constituency gets under per year. Way down the bottom. I welcome the

extra ?4 billion the government offered. But there is still going to

be a shortfall given the cost pressures coming along the line from

pay increases, national insurance and the apprenticeship levy. It is

the cumulative effect for being underfunded for so many years which

means so many of our schools do not have any further slack they can take

up. They really are running on empty. So this has got to be dealt

with as a matter of urgency. That is why West Sussex MPs have taken our

heads to see the minister, I have invited all the heads of my

constituency to a meeting next month to see the exact impact of the

funding situation. I welcome the fact the secretary of State has

consulted on a fair funding formula. Only this government has done it. We

had a second consultation on the 22nd of March and then the general

election interrupted that. We must urgently get a resolution to a fair

funding formula that just doesn't tinker with the deprivation figures

or would the rural sparsity figures but comes up with a formula that

will mean schools in my constituency have the basic they need to operate.

We can argue the toss about Pupil Premium and the extras of

deprivation on top of it, but this cannot wait any longer. I urge the

Secretary of State for Education will take back this message as a

matter of urgency, let's have a resolution to this consultation and

have a meaningful settlement that mean schools in my constituency have

fair funding to give the children a fair start as the rest of the

country, as a matter of urgency. One of my observations today in actual

fact is to listen to government when trying to have a go at us. It is a

very interesting that during the general election they didn't give us

any figures on costing, so they must of had a premonition they wouldn't

be in a majority after the general election. That is the only reason I

can think of. We have also got to make the point and the message

hasn't got across to the government benches yet, people are fed up with

austerity. I have visited a number of schools in my constituency and

the message has been the same at each school. That is, they may have

to make teachers redundant and classroom assistants redundant. I

believe a child should receive every thing possible to achieve in life

despite their background. There is no clear education commitment

outlined in the Queen's Speech only vague commitments. I hope the

government has finally brought its vanity project of introducing more

grammar schools. It would have only have increased the divisions in

society instead of trying to create new schools, we should be focusing

on existing schools to ensure they are sufficiently funded. This will

give our children the best opportunities. Despite this

government's pledge every child gets the education they deserve, this

government propose to take away free school meals in their manifesto. I

am pleased this policy has been scrapped but we must not forget they

tried to introduce it in the first place. It is under proposals from

the same government schools are having their funding cut for the

first time in 20 years. This will mean teachers will lose their jobs

and children are taught in super-sized classes. In Coventry,

over 29 million will be cut from the local authority budget. This means

?600 less per pupil. One school will face a reduction of ?1600 per pupil.

This is simply not good enough. Children deserve better. We have

seen time and time again, this government is failing people in this

country, be it children at the start of their lives or people at the

other end of their lives, threatening to scrap the triple lock

on pensions. Some have seen their state pension increase but have not

received adequate arrangements. We have seen a shift in focus with the

responsibility moving from central government to local government. It

is important local authorities can shape their service provisions, but

they are having to do so with budget cuts. Coventry Council has lost 106

million. This is a 50% cut in government grant funding. By 2020,

the government will have cut 655 million from Coventry's council

budget where people have complex needs, especially in areas like

mental health services. They expected deficit of 33 million by

2020, 21 in social care alone. Whilst we have hopefully seen the

back of this government's proposed dementia tax, more must be done

urgently to tackle this crisis in social care and there is no specific

mention of that in the Green paper. The Chancellor has said people are

weary of the long slog and the Conservatives... Is he really

hearing what people of this country need. It is staggering the

government can tell you to have an agenda of austerity. The DWP

announced the closure of 108 sites by March 20 18. This includes the

Jobcentre in Coventry. Meaning claimants will now have to travel

for up to an hour to get to a Jobcentre. This will be incredibly

difficult for many more vulnerable users at a time when the gap between

the rich and poor is widening, it is more important to ensure we are

caring for those who need it most. Whilst I welcome the fact the

inclusion of the important issue of domestic violence in the Queen's

Speech, lots of refuges have closed since 2010. This will have meant

women have not been able to get the help and support they need. 20,000

police officers have been cut and much has been made in the press

about the consequences of that. It seems where is this government says

one thing, their policies seem to do the exact opposite. Order. In order

to accommodate the very large number of colleagues who wish to speak, the

time limit immediately drops to four minutes, though I will use some

latitude as far as those wishing to make their maiden speeches are

concerned. Mine is not a maiden speech, unfortunately. I am happy to

welcome you to the chair. 33 years since we arrived in this place, we

are still surviving. I congratulate our honourable friend for Aberdeen

South who gave a speech which was witty and to the purpose. I think

the good people of Aberdeen and the good people of Lincolnshire, welcome

us taking back control of our fisheries, which will be a vital

part of the whole Brexit negotiations. I think what people

want, particularly young people is for us to be positive and

aspirational, and honest. If there is any thought to our Prime Minister

it was all most but we were too honest in explaining the National of

the level of national debt. This comes from our hard-pressed

taxpayers. I make no apology for reminding the House that national

debt stands at ?1.7 trillion. In the five minutes which you were going to

allow me to speak for earlier, national debt would have risen

during my short speech. Although it will rise a bit less now, it will

still go up. The Isner point in talking about the deficit if

national debt rises every year and the job of the Conservative Party is

to speak up for business, speak up for Wealth providers and wealth

creators and speak up the taxpayers. This national debt has to be

provided by car constituents. Sometimes it's not a popular

message. I have been asked to come here and say, on behalf of the

headmaster of Queen Elizabeth high school, I grammar school in my

constituency which is providing the scientists, the engineers, the

entrepreneurs of the future, a high performing school that their budget

has been cut by six and ?1000 in the last five years. Of course I support

them in a fairer funding formula, but we have to get some quality of

fairness throughout the country. It is simply not good enough for us to

continually argue for higher levels of public spending to accommodate

this or that interest group. And the first honest debate we need to have

in this country is about our ageing population, about the cost of social

care and full marks to the Prime Minister for trying to talk about

it. At the moment, we are committed to maintain the triple lock, we are,

we haven't yet had a full debate in this Queen's Speech or in this

Parliament about what there will be in terms of adult social care or

what floor, but we have to have that debate. We have to be able to

convince our ageing population that we have got the resources to care

for them, be humane, but also be honest. This same argument applies

to the NHS. Sometimes I am the only person in this place who argues that

not only do we have to put more money into the NHS, but we have to

be honest about where it is coming from. There is a limit about how

much you can play from general taxation when the top 1% paper 25%

of all spending. Let's be honest in these debates. Let's not talk about

a hard or soft Brexit, I am afraid we have to stick to the Lancaster

House speech by the Prime Minister. It is not hard or soft Brexit, it is

inevitable Brexit. We are leaving the EU. If you leave it, you have to

lead the single market, so let's be positive, let's be aspirational and

lets, as a party, the United. Maiden speech, Mr Hugh Gaffney. Everybody

happy? Welcome to Westminster. It has been a privilege to start work

here and not a privilege to represent the people who have sent

me here. I do offer some sympathy to the man I replaced, Phil Boswell and

his staff. No doubt, Phil and his staff expected a longer time down

here than what they received. Politics can be risky, as many

honourable members in this House will know better than me. Sorry, I

meant to me. I do follow in the footsteps of many good people. Like

Mr Coatbridge, the honourable Tom Clarke who served here for 33 years.

I would also like to recognise the Lanarkshire man, the late Labour

leader, John Smith, the best Prime Minister we never had. However, the

man I have come to follow was a working man. He recognised that

workers had no voice inside parliament. He is a man who gave

birth to the Labour Party, and today his name lives on in society to

which I'm one of its members. Mr Speaker, Coatbridge, Christ and

Bellshill, along other communities, are the areas I represent. We were

one part of an industrial landscape of steel, which many other

communities had as well, but sadly that has all gone. What is left is

not enough. We have poverty, not enough housing for a generation of

children today and tomorrow, they have no real vision. They have been

kept on low pay with zero hours contracts and told to be grateful

you have a job. There is no opportunity for a House, as they

cannot afford it. Our society is failing them and the gap between the

rich and the poor widens every day. My day job was with Royal Mail

Parcelforce, delivering and collecting parcels every day. It was

a privilege to represent my workmates from Glasgow Parcelforce,

to whom I was grateful. I represented these workers as a trade

union representative of the Communication Workers Union. For

workers today, I recommend you join a trade union movements. Strength is

in unity. I represent the CW you and I am proud to be part of the trade

union movement. Mr Speaker, I also declare an interest. Royal Mail was

not the sale, it was stolen and I do intend to return it to the great

public service, back to its rightful owners, which is the residents of

the UK. I can tell this House today the private profiteer, hedge

funders, I am coming to take back my sons and daughters money stolen by

people who have no interest in Royal Mail other than the profit. I come

here as a working man, just as proud as my father, Mark Gaffney, and my

mother Helen Gaffney, who both worked every day in life and will be

watching on the television back home to witness my moment. Love you both

and thank you. My family and friends who know me,

enjoy this moment! My new job starts now, with the help of my family and

Matthew, Kristin, Paul, my feet. On the ground. I'm here to represent

all of my constituents, and I will change society for the better. There

is enough wealth in this country to close the poverty gap and close down

food banks. As we enter Brexit, we can build a new United Kingdom, one

that cares for all walks of life, one that cares for humanity, one

that shows equality for all, no matter your race, colour, religion

or sexuality, we are all equal, and everyone from cradle to grave

deserves dignity and respect. I know I've finished, but I will make one

more point... LAUGHTER

The past we inherit, the future we build. And this I will apply as I

stand here for unemployed workers, disabled workers, and the taxpayer

and workers to whom there many more than the privileged few. Thank Mr

Speaker. Mr Deputy Speaker, can I start my congratulating the

honourable gentleman on that speech, it was passionate and intense, and

he is right, it is his moment to enjoy, and so he should. Can I also

congratulate my honourable friend the member for Aberdeen South, an

excellent representative. For me it is a pleasure to have so many

Scottish colleagues around by here on our benches. We have short time,

so let me count through some of the points I wanted to raise and put

onto the record. Rightly, today is focusing as one of its themes on

education. After all, if we look back just seven years, in 2010, one

in three children leaving primary schools were unable to read, write

or count properly. What that tells me is that under Labour into many

schools the standards just weren't good enough. Now, seven years on,

the number of children now in schools classed as good or excellent

has actually risen by nearly 2 million. Mr Deputy Speaker, that is

nearly 2 million young minds now able to flourish where previously

they were struggling on the poor standards. Education is important to

the individual, but it's also crucially important to the economy.

As we leave the European Union, we need to all of us rethink what we

mean by education, skills and training. And that brings me onto,

how can we best strengthen the economy as a whole? There are good

measures in this Queen's speech on agriculture, fisheries, spacecraft

and other emerging technologies. But we face a broader challenge, and

that is the productivity in this country is persistently weak. Unless

we address that, all of our hopes for public services and other

matters simply Will come to naught. At the beginning of this debate last

Wednesday, I listened to the Luder of the opposition when he told us

that in his view the most effective way to increasing pay is strong

trade unions and collective bargaining. It showed to me that his

thinking is out of date and blinkered. The best way to achieve

sustained growth and higher incomes is to raise our productivity. If we

add 1% of productivity to our economy each year, over the next ten

years that is a rather ?240 billion. That is ?9,000 per household. That

is the way to grow the economy. That's the way to lift people is

wages. That's the way to pay for the public services which we all speak

of. Let me just touch on one aspect of productivity in the minute or so

that I have, that is about trade. In recent months we have seen the pound

fall, and we have seen a resurgence in manufacturing, that is welcome.

But at the axle and Times Economist David Smith pointed out, we now need

to liberalise the trade in services. After all, services or 18 of our

economy. The bills on trade and customs are good. I welcome that we

have a dedicated trade department focused on this task. I have to say,

Mr Debaty is Beagle, the liberalisation of the global market

in services, which is so important to our economy and jobs, will need a

sustained and cross Government approach if it is succeed. Clearly

the EU Brexit process will affect that most immediately. But there is

a wider opportunity here, and I believe that this country should

take up the mantle as the champion for open local markets in services

and pursued that through whatever means possible. Get that right and

the chance to grow our economy and so, yes, grief -- lift people's

living standards. Maiden speech, Lesley Laird. Mr Deputy Speaker,

thank you for giving me the opportunity in today's debate.

Before looking forward, I want to take a few moments to pause and

reflect on the maiden speeches made by members of Parliament who have

gone before me representing Icardi and Cowdenbeath. My predecessor

Roger Bolliger serve the constituency from June 20 15th to

May 20 17. In his maiden speech he quoted Kirkcaldy's famous son, Adam

Smith, who said that no society could surely be flourishing and

happy of which is a far greater part of the members are poor and

miserable. That same line was also used by Doctor Lewis Moonie, another

predecessor, you serve this fine constituency from 1987 until 2005.

What struck me about this was that whilst so much may have changed in

ours is cited, the fundamental challenges reflected then and here

today remain the same. It would of course be remiss of me not to

mention Gordon Brown. He served by Icardi and Cowdenbeath constituency

for ten years until 2005. He also served this country as Chancellor

and Brymon is that. A true and sincere public servant for his

constituency on this country. But Doctor Brown did in fact make his

maiden speech in 1983. On that occasion, the debate was about

Social Security and the proposals to reduce the benefit levels to be

paid. An issue still reflected within today's society. The

constituency that I am honoured and privileged to represent is cut --

Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath. I would like to thank people for giving me

the opportunity to represent them. What strikes me about my area is

that it is a pool of talent and untapped potential. Potential that

deserves to be unlocked. My constituency is an area that has

known the highest of industrial prosperity through mining,

manufacturing, Minnelli, shipping and now poverty and hardship as

these industries have slipped away and never really been replaced. It

is an area that offers so much in terms of skills and spirit and

remains a hidden gem in terms of the contribution that it could make to

our economy and society. Its character and its resilience shown

is so strongly through the towns and villages of our mining communities

and beyond. Attributes that I have seen it continued to hold its

ground, its head high, but it deserves to make much better

progress. And so I ask myself, what can we all do differently in this

House to stop repeating the history and that quote and sentiment of Adam

Smith? The many talents of this House cannot turn the tide for our

most deprived communities, I remember him saying. I rarely say

that our political will does not match the spirit and resilience of

the communities that will represent. Today we are discussing education

and local services, two enable us for people in my constituency and

yours for a better life for themselves and their families. For

the previous five years I've been an elected councillor in Fife, and no

the life changing and life-saving services that are by local

authorities. Yet these life bridging services are being systematically

dismantled and eroded, leaving investment in people, communities

and infrastructure flawed and fragmented. It was Winston Churchill

who expressed concerns over harsh access of accumulated capital, and

the gaping sorrows of the millions. And so, as we discussed these life

changing issues today, I'd put it to the House, is it therefore not our

duty to try something new? And what would be the harm in that? So, back

to the start and the issues we discussed by my predecessors in her

coldly and Cowdenbeath and the issues that we are debating today.

Are we accepting of the notion that the poor are always with us, or are

we prepared to take a different path? Again, what would be the harm

in that? Let me close today by once again quoting Sir Winston Churchill.

The state must increasingly and earnestly concern itself with the

care of the sick, the aged and the young. The state must increasingly

assumed the position of the reserve employee of labour. For the sake of

the people of our coldly and Cowdenbeath and communities across

the country, Isas dearly hope we will all seize this moment to stop

repeating the mistakes of history and look to find new ways to regain

a sense of society and opportunity for all. Mr Geoffrey Clifton Brown.

Mr Baptiste speaker, may I start by paying a sincere tribute for the

honourable lady. She will sincerely and diligently represent her

constituents. May I also pay tribute to Mike new honourable friend the

member for Aberdeen South. It is great to have both members in this

House, it sends a clear message to the people of Scotland that there

will be most unlikely a referendum to divide this united nation. I am

grateful to see them both in this House. Mr Deputy Speaker, I would

like to start whether honourable member for Glasgow North West

started and pay tribute to my teachers and governors in my

schools, because they do a great job on behalf of our children in this

country. I was delighted to see in our manifesto that we pledged to

spend an extra ?4 billion on education over the course of this

Parliament. That is an increase in real terms, so there is no reason

why any school budget in England and Wales would actually decrease.

Before I get reprimanded by my honourable friend for Gainsborough,

I am with him absolutely, we have to live him within our means. Austerity

only means living within our means. But I think we have been struggling

in this House to long with an education funding formula that is

unfair, in Gloucestershire, we see a differential of funding at least age

three where our children get ?3700 per pupil. Whereas in the highest

spending London authority, they get 7200. That is a differential of

?3400. That cannot be fair, Mr Deputy Speaker. And I think that the

new funding formula that we have announced in our manifesto will go a

long way to ending that unfairness. And I was ferrying courage by the

answer that my honourable friend Secretary of State for Education

gave that it did seem that she was well on top of this problem. And

when she publishes proposals, I believe that they well be fairer to

low funded errors like Gloucestershire. Under the published

thousands in the last Parliament, I heard from one of my head teachers

that they were going to cut ?400,000 off their budget, that was losing 14

teachers. I say, Mr Deputy Speaker, that is unacceptable for the

children of our county. And I want every child in this country, whether

they be from nursery school through postgraduate training courses in

their university, to have the very best education in the world, because

that is the way that this country is going to succeed throughout the

world in raising its productivity which will increase trade. And I pay

a very sincere tribute to both of my neighbours in Gloucestershire for

the bus might things that they have done, one each. My honourable friend

for Cheltenham has done so much for the real prospect of a cyber path to

Cheltenham. That will bring huge opportunities for our talented and

bright youngsters. And my honourable neighbour for Gloucester has also

brought a university training college to our university in

Gloucester for nurses. Again, another real prospect for our

youngsters. These are the sorts of opportunities that I want to see in

our country today. Mr Deputy Speaker, there is a lot to do in

education, there is a lot to be explained where this money is going

to be raised for our schools. I think we went to the children of

this country. We want to be the very world best for education in this

country, we welcome the new technical institutions and the new T

levels and we want to have workplace visas for all of the brightest and

best for doing is to come here from around the world. Thank you.

Can I start by congratulating my two Honourable friends for magnificent

speeches. Far more magnificent than the man for Aberdeen South. But I

congratulate him also. We saw, the complete difference in the way the

three presented their cases that this Parliament is at its best when

it is diverse and that is what we have in this Parliament, more than

we have ever seen before. I worry about this country. We are facing

probably the biggest challenge since the Second World War, yet we have a

Prime Minister, who I believe, has shown herself to have a tin ear. Her

authority is in tatters, she has no mandate and sheep ate in the cannot

carry the country. She is like a massive oil tanker holes beneath the

water line. She cannot proceed apace, she cannot turn around and

everyone knows in this chamber and the country, she is doomed to sing,

it is just a question of when it is going to happen. Could there be any

clearer sign of the vacuum at the heart of this government than this

Queen's Speech. This isn't a Queen's Speech, it would barely qualify as a

queen's intervention. It is not worth the valance that it's written

on. We have become a country who believes that we can have our cake

and eat it. We want Swedish levels of health care, but US tax levels to

paper it. We want cheap fruit but we don't want migrants to come to this

country to serve it. We want office is clean, bedsores dressed and our

grandparents cared for by learned not prepared to pay for that. In

Grenfell, we saw the horror of leaving everything to the market.

Cost-cutting has a human price. But every single one of us has a housing

estate we feel ashamed of. Let's hope we hope there will never be

another fire like Grenfell, but in every state and in every miserable

flat with mould growing on the walls, children grow up

undernourished and unable to achieve their full potential and people die

before their time. It is not a tragedy that will ever get on the

front page of the newspapers but it is a daily tragedy we could all

prevent. Let us hope we never hear again those words, health and safety

gone mad. You simply cannot get a fully functioning, modern society on

the cheap. Ministers are saying the NHS, it is all the fault of the

public. All my constituents want is a functioning local surgery where

they can get an appointment. Unfortunately the government's

relentless assaults on the NHS means fewer and fewer doctors will not

consider working as a GP. France spends $4959 per head on health care

in 2014. We spent only $3935. The point is we cannot have our cake and

eat it. You cannot get a first-class flight if you only pay the economy.

You could not get a Scandinavian NHS if you only pay US taxes. And you

cannot get our national finances back in order by slash and burn

economics. The government should know this. After all, they have

repeatedly failed to meet their own targets on the deficit and debt.

Deliberately attempting to get the proportional income down,

deliberately creating a smaller state is wrong headed ideological

crime era. It has a terrible human cost and it will never get our House

back in order. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today. It is a

pleasure to follow the member for ronde. I think, actually! I would

like to congratulate those members who have made very passionate maiden

speeches today. In particular I would like to congratulate my

honourable friend, the member for Aberdeen South on his excellent

maiden speech. As a strong advocate for vocational education, including

apprenticeships, I do welcome the major reforms, including the Queen's

Speech looking at technical education. It is with this in mind I

am disappointed by the decision by South Staffordshire college to close

the Cannock campus. Once the Cannock Chase mining and technical College,

the college has been at the heart of the Cannock town centre and serve

the many generations. Despite millions of pounds spent on a

revamped in 2013, which meant it was one of the best sites in the country

with some state-of-the-art technology, student numbers reducing

has meant the decision has been made to close this particular site. I do

however welcome the college's commitment to proceed with a retail

training facility at the new designer Outlet Village. Helping to

train a new generation of General retailers. In the meantime I hope

the college will look at ways they can maintain a presence in the town

centre, as plans are developed for this campus. Given the levels of

investment in the campus, it is essential any future plans make the

very most of these extra facilities. Given its position in the heart of

the town centre, the plans for the site need to be part of a wider

regeneration plan for the town centre. Similarly, we need to look

at the opportunities the redevelopment of the power station

site, presents in terms of the regeneration of Rugeley town centre.

As I have said many times before, I want to ensure we have ambitious,

bold and visionary plans for the future of Rugeley and make sure it

is a prosperous future. I would like to know briefly turned my attention

to the electric vehicles built. I welcome news to increase the number

of charging points and do hope I will see an increase of these

facilities across Cannock Chase. While Staffordshire County Council

have, in partnership with the local, sustainable transport fund and

plugged in places West Midlands, has installed charging points in

Stafford, I am afraid my constituency is lagging behind. If

we want to have a change in the terms of adoption of electric

vehicles, we must make public charging points more readily

available. And finally, with 69% of voters in Cannock Chase voting to

leave the EU, I welcome the legislation that will be brought

forward to deliver on the referendum result. As the government sets out

to get the best possible Brexit deal and build a new relationship with

our partners in the EU. Thank you. Maiden speech, Leila Moran. It is a

great honour to make my maiden speech following so many eloquent

and passionate speakers. It is a greater honour to do so in an

education debate, as a teacher, educationalist and my party's

spokesperson on this issue. I was reminded by the speaker himself out

my swearing in that some clever people indeed have represented

Oxford West and Abingdon before me. Nicola Blackford is capable

advocate, while we disagreed a much, there is one point we agreed

absolutely that the people of this constituency deserve and demand the

highest level of constituency representation. I pay tribute to the

former member for her genuine, heartfelt commitment to the area and

I promised my constituents they will always be at the centre of my heart

while I am here. Prior to Nicola, I am sure you remember Doctor Evan

Harris, who inspired me, to his fearless advocacy for progressive

evidence -based arguments, many others would have avoided. I am now

proud to call him my friend. Both of these predecessors were also

enthusiastic proponents of science and as a maths and physics teacher,

I intend to do just the same. Now, I may just be the luckiest woman in

the world to represent the beautiful, historically important

constituency of Oxford West and Abingdon. To the North sits

Kidlington and surrounding villages. Kidlington itself

is one of the largest villages in England and proud of this status.

The the stunning North Oxford, the home of ten Oxford colleges and the

horns of many Oxford Brookes students as well. The community is

passionate and active and I look forward to receiving their numerous

e-mails and letters replete with footnoted references. And then to

the villages further south, large and small, each with their charm and

strong community spirit. Last, but not least, the ancient market town

of Abingdon. Some say a contender for the oldest town in England.

Rubbish, it is the oldest time, Colchester, go away and try harder.

It is a very special area, full of remarkable, talented people but like

all communities we face our share of challenges, flooding, unaffordable

housing, underinvestment in public transport, notably cycling and buses

feature frequently, but none more than the 834 and many will know

about the cross-party fight to secure the funding for the Lodge

Hill junction. I can promise I will never let up on these local issues

or any other. But the most recent grassroots campaigns were on the

closures of children's centres. And the crisis in schools funding, led

by parents in the Oxfordshire fairer funding group. This brings me back

to the theme of this debate. I am here because I have a burning

passion that every child, no matter their background should have a fair

chance of making the best of this world. This passion was ignited when

I was shocked and ashamed to learn this country, this great nation, a

member of the G-7 that this is not the case. I have lived in countries

like Ethiopia, Jamaica and Jordan, where such inequalities might be

more understandable, but here we have no excuse. Such inequality is

simply wrong. Which is why I am so concerned by the government's

interpretation of fairer funding. I have been a primary school governor

for the last two years and have seen the figures. There is a funding

crisis, make no mistake and unless more real terms funding is found,

the next go to go is teachers. With fewer teachers there will be fewer

one-to-one interactions with the struggling students we will know

will make the difference to them. I end by asking this House this, is

there anything more important than the support and the love we give to

the youngest in our society? After all, they may be sat here looking

after us. I beseech the government, in this time of great uncertainty,

let's make sure we give them everything we possibly can to help

them and by extension, all of us, succeed. Can I congratulate the

honourable lady for such a powerful and gracious, eloquent speech. It

was a powerful reminder of the great talent that exists in our teaching

profession, which I am pleased to say is in this House. I am sure she

will agree with me, and with Benjamin Disraeli who said, upon the

education of the people in this country, the fate of this country

depends. What applies then, applies now. There is no better... As a

nation we can take pride in acknowledging there are now a total

of 6.6 million young people in good or outstanding schools, that is up

by 1.8 million since 2010, an increase of 35%. There are now more

than 140 7000, six-year-old is on track to become confident readers

ban in 2012. What a remarkable achievement by schools, teachers and

governors. I want to play particular tribute to teachers in my

constituency. They followed their calling and give a huge amount of

themselves. Teachers in schools like singer agrees which takes children

from Eastern European backgrounds and fosters a tolerant and unified

society in Cheltenham. Another school sent 50% of its students to

university and another one address challenges in the past and is now

going from strength to strength. What is so remarkable about these

achievements is the funding context in which they have been achieved.

For decades, Cheltenham schools have been underfunded, compared to the

national average. It is not by a small sum. In 2014 the schools block

allocation was ?1995. The average was ?4495. Yet we have it situation

where one honourable member on the opposite bench was complaining that

funding in her constituency was planned to rise from just over

?5,400 up to ?5,500. Those figures, which in Cheltenham, we can only

dream of. They amount to just under 30% more. If I turned up to a

meeting with headteachers in Cheltenham with an additional 30% in

funding, I would be welcomed like Moses. All of this would be

tolerable if the cost pressures were manageable, but they are not. There

is salary increases, increases to National Insurance and so on. It is

so welcome that the government is facing up to this injustice,

unravelling this formula and starting from first principles is a

task of almost unimaginable complexity. Lesser statesman than my

right honourable friend would have run a mile, but she has taken up the

challenge and has already delivered meaningful improvements with 390

million put into the baseline. But it is the case the current proposal

officials have come up with those needs surgery, turning first to be

impact, although Cheltenham gains over all from the proposals, the way

the cake is divided up creates distorted outcomes and risks

fostering resentments. Some schools do very well, but others actually

use and these are schools located near to each other. All this risks

creating a situation where geographic inequity is replaced by

neighbourhood geographic inequity, so regional Innoko the with

neighbourhood inequity. He's making a very good point by the way in

which the funding system was going to work, but during the election,

the government made it clear that no school would receive less money than

it is currently giving. This should give all our schools in

Gloucestershire and elsewhere in us confidence for the future?

This is precisely the point, and it was a welcome point include in the

manifesto. Ensuring we don't have a situation where there is a risk of

potential segment being created. If that were to happen, schools in

Britain may retreat to their core subject and other subjects might

suffer. What we need is a funding settlement which allows all schools

to provide a full and rounded education, not just which are by

able to satisfy the criteria for funding, the core funding must be

sufficient to achieve that goal. In conclusion, we need a funding

settlement which consolidates the extraordinary progress that has been

made over the last seven years and lays the ground for more still. The

prize is great. If we get this right, the funding for education --

the future for education in Cheltenham and our country can be

even brighter still. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Could I begin by

paying tribute to the honourable member for Oxford West and Abingdon

for the eloquent maiden speech. And previously to my honourable friends

for the enthusiasm and commitment that they clearly will bring to

representing their constituents in this Parliament and I congratulate

them on their success as well. Mr Deputy Speaker, not a single mention

in the Queen's speech about global governance or the service it

provides, not a single mention. This is the area of public service with

the biggest cuts since 2010 of any area. A 4% cut in real terms in

local government spending. That is what we have seen since 2010, yet

not a single mention of the issues. During the election campaign, my

constituents raised with me concerned about long waits to see a

GP, cuts in school budgets, delays in police attending, fewer police

officers. They also raised concerns about schemes that cannot be

enacted, over 500 in a list that Sheffield City Council has got.

Playground equipment that cannot be replaced because there is not any

money. 2000 libraries run by volunteers because the permanent

staff are not there any more. And of course about the crisis in social

care funding as well. It appears the message we are getting back is,

austerity continues, unless of course you live in Northern Ireland.

We also have no mention in the Queen's speech about devolution.

This was ace that jittery policy, wasn't it not, of the previous

Chancellor. -- no word about devolution. Is the Government

committed to deepening the devolution arrangements that are

already in place Klassiker is it committed to extending them to other

areas? I accept it is the region's fault we haven't got further than we

have so far. The last Minister for the Northern Powerhouse was

extremely helpful in that regard. But is the Government open to new

deals coming forward? I have to mention the 100% business rate

retention scheme, part of the local government finance bill. The second

reading of the bill, the Minister referred to this as a revolutionary

measure. I quote the words he used. Now, I always thought the Minister

in his place was an unlikely revolutionary! But nevertheless, he

does seem to have run away rather quickly at the first sound of

electioneering gunfire. What has happened to the measurable's the

Government still committed to it or have they given up on fiscal

devolution as well? Coming back to social care funding, Mr Deputy

Speaker. Before the election, the Government promised a green paper.

Now they are promising an saltation. I think they probably worked out now

that quick fixes in the middle of an election do not work for social care

funding. Will they come back to the idea of a Select Committee raised

before the election of having a cross-party attempt to bring about

an agreement we can all sign up to say that we get a permanent solution

in place for the future,? Finally, coming back to the issue that I

raised yesterday, where local authorities and housing associations

going to go if they end up with great new bills because of the need

to actually carry out essential and urgent work to tower blocks? Local

councils and housing associations cannot raise rents. They are

restricted by the Government rules in place to control them. Local

authorities cannot borrow more, they are restricted by a government cap.

If a local authority gets a new bill, it hasn't got some mystical

reserves it can go to. All it can do is cut other programmes of the

maintenance of other parts of its housing stock. What an awful

position for us to get into. Trying to trail with an urgent problem in

tower blocks, we end up cutting the maintenance to all the other social

housing stock. For sake, come forward with a comprehensive funding

arrangement to deal with this problem. Maiden speech, Mr Luke

Graham. Thank you very much, Mr Deputy

Speaker. It is with enthusiasm and humility that arise to make my

maiden speech in representing the constituency of Ochil and south

Kirchhoff. Mike and easy as is founded -- my enthusiasm is founded

upon the opportunity for being the first Conservative and Unionists

representative to represent here since 1931. And my humility is based

on the faith that constituents have placed in me and my party to deliver

progress for them during this Parliament. I picked up the baton, I

pay tribute to my predecessor's work on equality and international issues

and hope to continue raising awareness of these issues. I would

like to pay tribute to Gordon Banks, the first MP of Ochil and South

Persia, who has tirelessly worked on constituents' issues and he achieved

with such dedication his work that he is still talked about on the

doorsteps today. Mr Deputy Speaker, Mike so that my constituency is

large and diverse and formed of three distinct communities. It is

right to start with its breathtaking views, best observed from the

villages. Before moving to Kinross, where find local businesses like

hunters unorthodox roasters and heaven sent as well as Rachel House,

Scotland's first job in hospice, reside. Furthermore, Kinross-shire

plays host to the current Grand National winner, won four of. You

know who to back in a tight race! South Persia is renowned for its

agricultural heritage, boasting crops, livestock, and a fine

collection of distilleries, however, it's not just farming and whisky.

South Perthshire provided two Star Wars actors! I will let members of

the House decide who provided the greatest service to the United

Kingdom! South Perthshire's scenery wind infections and boasts the

Gleneagles hotel -- wins affections. Colleagues have more than one excuse

to visit our constituency. With Highland Spring based in Blackford,

we not only can provide your whisky, we can give you the water too. You

can reach Clackmannanshire, the weak country with a big heart.

Clackmannanshire has a proud industrial part in mining, paper

manufacturer, Mills and by Rees. Well some of the injuries have now

moved on, -- breweries. The glassworks continue to complement

the whisky and water from the North. Clackmannanshire may have earned is

name the wee County from its boundary lines, but it has the

landscape, the people and the ambition to show that it's not the

size but it's what you do with it that counts. In a diverse

constituency like mine, connectivity is a key issue, therefore I intend

to use my time in this House to improve the connectivity whether it

being the form of rural broadband, mobile phone signal or greater

infrastructure to connect our constituency with the rest of the

UK. But it is not just roads, rails and wires that our constituency

needs. It requires more social connectivity, and we must look to

combine inward investment with initiatives to build social capital

in areas of deprivation so we can improve social mobility. Mr Deputy

Speaker, more and more politics seem to be calling on anger and outrage

to solve the problems we face. This is understandable. Anger is an easy

emotion, but it masks the year. The rapid changes of the 21st-century,

Britain can make people afraid. Rather than calling for a day of

rage, I hope to call for days of courage. Courage to face the test of

globalisation and help recognise the opportunities that they provide.

Courage to face the challenges of identity and nationhood whilst

recognising the strength of our United Kingdom. And finally, the

courage to stand behind our political conviction but know when

it is best to stretch our hand across the aisle to work together

for the betterment of our communities. Clackmannanshire has

recently adopted the motto, more than you can imagine. I hope to hold

true to this motto. Although lofty and bats naive, I hope to work with

others in this House to achieve more than we and certainly the public

have come to expect. Can I first of all congratulate the honourable

member for Auckland South Persia. From his maiden speech I think his

constituents will recognise they have a worthy champion of the area.

And certainly his knowledge of the area, I think we were all interested

to hear about it. I was interested in his knowledge about the Grand

National winner. If he knows any racing tips before they run, perhaps

he'd like Fabinho and I won't tell anybody else -- perhaps he'd like to

let me know! Can I congratulate all of the other members who have made

their maiden speeches. With the member for Oxford demonstrating

their knowledge and interest and indeed their enthusiasm and

knowledge that they will bring to Parliament for our debates here. Mr

Deputy Speaker, in the brief time that I've got, the remarks I want to

make, can I just say this... At a time when our country is divided, at

a time when our country is crying out for a vision of the future, at a

time when people are looking for policies which address some of the

very real concerns they have in their lives, we have a vacuous

Queen's speech which actually contains variable -- very little

which addresses the real needs of the country. When you look at

Brexit, whether Government is unclear as to how to move forward

and comes forward for a number of bills but no clear strategy about

the exit for this country from the European Union, still arguing about

whether immigration should be the main priority when the country is

clearly saying that jobs and beer, we should be right at the forefront

of our negotiations, we have a Government which knows very little

about which way it should, Howard should proceed. With a debate today,

it is about schools and government services, where is the vision, Mr

Deputy Speaker, for our schools? And where is the vision for our local

government in the Queen's speech? There isn't any. Our schools, and we

can argue about how we move forward or not, whether the pace of progress

has been as quick as we want, nobody stands on an election manifesto of

let's make our schools worse, but where's the vision for the

government about teacher attempt -- repayment and recruitment. Schools

struggle to get maths and science teachers. Where the policies that

address the needs for ever better school leadership. Where are the

policies to deal with how we ensure that Jordan with special needs,

instead of their parents having to fight for a statement, to get the

support that they need in schools, where is that? All of that is

nonexistent. Let me also say to the Minister, the great plea that I've

always made, on technical education, for 50 years, governments of all

colours have wrestling with the problem of schools shortages in this

country, it is not just a policy problem, it is a cultural problem in

our society, which whatever anybody says about rhetoric about parity of

esteem, still sees skills and vocational education as second rate.

And until we address that as a nation, we will not overcome this

problem. So I say again to the Government, and I say to this

Parliament, this is a very real crisis of education in this country,

and we should have a national campaign across parties to deal with

it. Mr Deputy Speaker, in the 22nd that I've got left, you can say the

same about local government. They have had their money splashed, and

yet their expectation based upon them ever greater to deal with needs

in their area. And whatever the rights or wrongs of the deal with my

friends from the DUP, let no Government Minister ever come to

that dispatch box again and say there is no money to meet the needs

of constituents like mine and constituents like everyone across

this country, or indeed it was a Queen's speech with real policy and

real vision. What we got was a vacuous empty noise and nothing.

Thank you, and it is a pleasure to be in this chamber and hear so many

eloquent and powerful maiden speeches. A particular want to

congratulate my friend the Member for South pack share who has shown

he will be a powerful advocate for his constituents in this Parliament.

It is a tremendous honour to have been re-elected by the people of

editors Brewery to continue to represent our area's best interest

in Parliament. Join the campaign school funding and our economic

prosperity in the light of a changing relationship with the EU

were questions concerning my constituents. Since first being

elected in 2015 I have campaigned tirelessly for fairer school funding

settlement were both my local authority is as members of the F 40,

but 40 worst Bond councils in the country. -- the 40 worst Bond of

councils in the country. I was optimistic that the government were

finally tackling the unfairness in my constituency that's been

entrenched over a period of 30 years, unfortunately the formula

that was published was not sufficient to deal with that

historic unfairness. I was encouraged by our manifesto

commitment to boost schools funding and Iyers the government to target

that extra funding at areas such as Cheshire that are undoubtably

underfunded and to ensure that pupils thundered at the lower levels

of the country receiver fairer funding settlement which brings them

into line with those funded at far higher levels. My teachers are used

to delivering more the less as they have been doing that for the last 30

years. I would urge the government that now is the time to reduced this

historic unfairness. It cannot be said enough that investment in

education is imperative. The wider benefits for the individual and the

Society of providing a world-class education system are innumerable and

necessary. Necessary if we are to acquit our young people with the

skills and knowledge to work in a global wealth. It must be stretched

the Mee stressed that to put ourselves in a position to fund our

schools and other public services we must achieve a well structured, well

thought out and orderly exit from the European Union. In that regard

transitional arrangements are imperative, reducing economic

turbulence that would arise through the falling off the cliff edge of EU

membership. The vote to leave last year can meet analysed in a number

of ways, but the Chancellor has been absolutely right to say that the

British people did not vote to make themselves poorer and that is why

our economic interest must be at the heart of the approach to be

negotiations. We need a stronger economy in order to invest in

education and other local services, our NHS and to maintain fiscal

responsibility. If we are to... We are likely to see extremely

difficult economic circumstances. Even if we do manage to secure free

trade agreement within the two-year period ahead we risk major shocks to

the economy if we do not negotiate an appropriate transitional

arrangement. The importance of providing certainty the business was

rightly mentioned in the Queen's speech, whether that be access to

markets across the year, having the confidence to invest or the ability

to recruit gold workers, giving businesses more time to prepare but

the significant shift in the economic landscape will give greater

stability. It will allow us to retain a close relationship with

your rope with frictionless trade we seek to find those new trade deals

others are so optimistic will appear. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Maiden speech. Thank you for allowing me to make my maiden

speech, today. Thank you also to the people of North west Dublin but

allowing me to be here at all. I think it is apt that I should be

called in this debate because before entering this House I work with

schools, colleges and teachers were nine years. My predecessor dedicated

her professional applet could create to education. It could be halved the

friend and ally to schools in not Westboro Rome that Pat Glass has

been and I will be doing very well. Pat Glass leaves a brand-new

secondary school as one important legacy of her time here, even in

opposition she managed to prise bonding for a school from a former

Education Secretary which I believe took the energy of a line hunting a

gazelle. I and others are truly grateful for all that she did but

the constituency and I wish her well and have Timon. North wedge doll is

the most magnificence of places, -- North West Dublin is the most

magnificent of places. The green lush countryside is breathtaking

peppered with farms, the richness of our culture and history is

astounding. The people are hard workers proud and strong. Some in

here would have us painted in the North as uncultured, without

finesse, as savages by think any people think that because they do

not know our communities or our people. My constituents are the real

wealth creators and they are people who make this nation great. If you

want see one of the world finest cultural traditions look no further

than Durham miners Gala, not in my constituency but it is an annual

pilgrimage but many of my constituents, the biggest trade

union gathering in Europe. It celebrates the best of solidarity

and of struggle. North West Durham had a long and proud tradition of

skilled work, dominated by steel production and becoming pronounced

the thick red dust that covers the town. At its peak in the 1960s the

steelworks provided jobs for some 6000 people, we had lead mines and

hundreds of jobs in the thriving textiles industry. That industry was

unfortunately left to decline, jobs and communities were not invested in

an unemployment rose exponentially. Many are still living with the scars

of that period, today. I will turn to this building which is

intimidating, it reeks of the establishment and the power, its

systems are confusing, so may say archaic and it was built at a time

when my class and my sex would have been denied a place with in it

because we are deemed unworthy. I believe that the intimidating nature