Contributions
1,122 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPost Office Redress and FundingI am sure I speak for the whole House when I say that I wish the experience that my hon. Friend has described was just an isolated example, but sadly there have been far too many…18 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office Redress and FundingYes. My hon. Friend raises a very good point. The Ministry of Justice has made clear its concern about this issue and is set to bring forward a consultation document early in the…18 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office Redress and FundingI would be very happy to receive further information from the hon. Lady, and I will endeavour to reply to her as quickly as I can. I recognise that there are concerns about the…18 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office Redress and FundingI thank my hon. Friend for his question. Specifically on what further action we can take to speed up the process, one of the reasons why we introduced a fixed-sum payment of…18 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office Redress and FundingThe hon. Gentleman makes a perfectly reasonable point—it is something I feel acutely. I have met a number of the sub-postmasters who used the Capture software and were treated…18 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office Redress and FundingI have looked at this issue, which came up at the Select Committee. We write out to ask for further information in order to be able to justify the payment of more compensation,…18 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office Redress and FundingI understand completely the frustration of sub-postmasters who have waited so long to get redress and have their cases heard. The right hon. Gentleman will understand that there…18 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office Redress and FundingI commend my hon. Friend for championing the cause of the family of a sub-postmaster in his constituency. He will forgive me if I do not know the exact compensation scheme that…18 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office Redress and FundingIf the hon. Gentleman writes to me with the details of that case, I will happily look at where it is at. The Horizon shortfall scheme has been run by the Post Office for some…18 Dec 2024HANSARDKroll Investigation into Capture Software: Government ResponseNetwork subsidy uplift and postmaster remuneration The Government are committed to delivering the manifesto commitment to strengthen the post office network. To do this, we intend…17 Dec 2024HANSARDCreative IndustriesI cannot follow the impressive nature of that question, but I can tell my hon. Friend that in the Budget my right hon. Friend the Chancellor confirmed a new independent film tax…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHigh Streets: Government SupportYes, we are determined to maintain and, indeed, strengthen the post office network. I suspect that the hon. Member will recognise that we inherited a Post Office with huge…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHigh Streets: Government SupportI think the best advice I could give to businesses in the right hon. Member’s constituency is to never vote Conservative again. His and his party’s idea of good economics in…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHigh Streets: Government SupportI commend my hon. Friend on her work with the Ramsgate empty shops action group. Her experience on her high street is sadly echoed up and down the country—under the Conservative…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office ClosuresI recognise the significance of the post office in my hon. Friend’s constituency, as indeed I recognise the significance of post offices in my constituency and across the UK. It…12 Dec 2024HANSARDCreative IndustriesThe creative industries are a huge force for good in our country. They were responsible for 2.4 million jobs last year, and more than £124 billion for our GDP in 2022. They are…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend will be aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced £20.4 billion in investment for research and development for the next year, which will help to…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPost Office ClosuresNo decisions have been taken on the future of any directly managed branches, including in Chester-le-Street in my hon. Friend’s constituency. The Post Office continues to work…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHigh Streets: Government SupportWorking across government with mayors, local authorities and—crucially—local communities, we are beginning to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime, reforming business rates,…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHigh Streets: Government SupportDespite the considerable cold, I very much enjoyed my recent visit to Gateshead town centre, and I was impressed by the dynamism of the businesses that he and I met at his…12 Dec 2024