This week in Parliament

Education Questions kicked things off on Monday. I pressed ministers for clarity on the proposed 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗘𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝘅𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲. It was announced back in 2023 and parents, the council and local providers deserve straight answers on where it now stands. I also pushed again for 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 so more are advertised in the summer, when young people actually need them.

On Tuesday, in the 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, I spoke about the human and financial cost of failure. In Oldham, 633 children are living in temporary accommodation. It’s unacceptable. We need a whole-government effort to get families into safe, decent and affordable homes, and to shut down the rogue landlords exploiting this crisis.

Great as always to welcome pupils from 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶 𝗥𝗖 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻 to Parliament before the 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 wrapped up on Wednesday. This Budget delivers for Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton: lifting 6,000 children out of poverty, freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years, cutting energy bills by around £150, and freezing prescription charges. Real help with the cost of living.

I also pressed the Transport Secretary in a written question on 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝟲𝟬 and poor drainage. Encouraging signs of progress, but there’s still more to do on a motorway our whole region relies on. To see more on this question I put forward, head to the MEN: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/…/government…

In the Westminster Hall debate on 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮, I made the case for a co-operative ownership model so we can protect our local papers, radio stations and broadcasters – the people who’ve told Oldham’s story and held power to account for generations.

I had a number of interesting meetings including meeting with the outgoing CEO Robin Fieth and newly appointed Sarah Harrison from the Building Society Association on working to promote building societies and inclusive finance. I wish Robin the best in what follows and look forward to working with Sarah.

Members also voted on the 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹, which will reform pension schemes to deliver better value and channel more investment into local infrastructure and future industries.

Yesterday, I raised concerns about the 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿𝘀 in England. It 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘢𝘮, but as a former Minister for English Devolution & Local Government, I know the impact this has on local leaders who’ve acted in good faith. They deserve better.

Before heading back home, I asked the Leader of the House whether the government will back the 10-Minute Rule Bill I support on 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹. This isn’t about banning fireworks, it’s about setting reasonable noise limits and giving councils the powers they need to deal with repeated antisocial misuse. It matters to people with sensory issues, veterans, pet owners and anyone who just wants a quiet night.

Now the best bit, back in Oldham and some rewarding visits lined up this weekend.