Contributions
138 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsT5. Council tax arrears are a growing problem. In 2018, an estimated 2.2 million households were in arrears, and in 2016-17, people paid an estimated £129 million in bailiff fees…17 Jun 2019HANSARD Consumer ProtectionDoes not the Minister agree that the cuts to local trading standards departments, which have seen them lose about 56% of their staff, have severely hampered their work in keeping…11 Jun 2019HANSARD Consumer ProtectionThere are still millions of people who have not contacted Whirlpool and about whom Whirlpool knows nothing, so does the Minister not agree that the recall process would have been…11 Jun 2019HANSARDUniversal Credit and DebtThank you, Sir Henry. I was talking about the five-week wait and advances. Even with a 30% payment back, 65% of StepChange clients who are in debt will still have problems paying.…05 Jun 2019HANSARDUniversal Credit and DebtI congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Ruth George) on her speech. It is a fact that more people who go on to universal credit are seeking debt advice. In my…05 Jun 2019HANSARD Debt Collection LettersCan the Minister confirm that the breathing space would also apply to statutory authorities, for example local authorities, which are possibly the biggest users of bailiffs?21 May 2019HANSARD Debt Collection LettersDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that putting the threat of court action first puts people off reading the rest of the letter? What should be first is the fact that help is…21 May 2019HANSARDFinancial Exclusion: Access to CashIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Henry. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Feltham and Heston (Seema Malhotra) on securing this debate. It might…21 May 2019HANSARDHormone Pregnancy TestsI congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton South East (Yasmin Qureshi) on securing this debate, and on all the work she has done on this subject. In the small geographic…23 Apr 2019HANSARDHouseholds Below Average Income StatisticsIn the light of these figures, it is no surprise that StepChange reports that over 20% of its clients have no disposable income to pay off their debts, and they are borrowing for…28 Mar 2019HANSARD Local Government FundingWill my hon. Friend join me in congratulating Wigan Council on winning council of the year? How much more it could have done had it not had its funding cut by £160 million.27 Mar 2019HANSARD Communities: Charities and VolunteersI am really pleased to speak in this debate and to talk about my experience of 23 years both as a volunteer at and manager of a local citizens advice bureau. People volunteer for…13 Feb 2019HANSARD[P002354]I rise to present a petition in the same terms on behalf of the parents, carers and staff of the outstanding Hindley Nursery School in the constituency of Makerfield. There are…05 Feb 2019HANSARDHolocaust Memorial DayIt is a privilege to speak in this debate, and I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley North (Ian Austin) for his passionate and eloquent speech, and for the work he does…24 Jan 2019HANSARDCollege FundingIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Walker. I welcome this debate; the number of signatures shows how important the issue is. It is really important to people in…21 Jan 2019HANSARDCollege FundingIndeed, they travel from all over the north-west to attend Winstanley College. To have that college say that it does not think it can carry on offering those excellent…21 Jan 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsT5. I have recently been contacted by constituents who have faced long waits in A&E at Wigan Infirmary. Figures show that one in four patients have waited longer than four hours.…15 Jan 2019HANSARD Bailiffs: Regulatory ReformI congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds) on securing the debate. I have long been interested in bailiff practice both as chair of the…09 Jan 2019