Mike Wood: My hon. Friend speaks about a more inquisitorial system. Does she agree that if we are looking at a genuinely inquisitorial system of the kind that would be recognised on the continent, it might help if coroners were able to question and probe rather than being expected purely to be the independent arbiter and judge, which lends itself to cases being more adversarial?
Anne Main Conservative, St Albans
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Peter Grant Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Europe), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Exiting the European Union)
I am grateful for the chance to speak in this debate, and I commend Keir Starmer for having secured it.
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Mike Wood: Does my hon. Friend agree that such horrendous abuse and its lifelong effects cannot possibly be justified on the basis of cultural practice?
Zac Goldsmith Conservative, Richmond Park
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Mike Wood: Shared parental leave is as much about cultural change as it is about legislation. What is my right hon. Friend doing to help parents better understand and access shared parental leave?
Penny Mordaunt (The Secretary of State for International Development, Minister for Women and Equalities)
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Mike Wood: I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. Does he agree that one of the major barriers to children and young people exercising their rights under the UN convention on the rights of the child to be involved in decisions around their own care is difficulty in accessing the content of their personal files, and that this issue needs to be addressed across the country?
Tim Loughton Conservative, East Worthing and Shoreham
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Mike Wood: What steps he is taking to increase support for people with autism and learning disabilities.
Caroline Dinenage Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Autism and learning disabilities are clinical priorities in the NHS long-term plan. We are committed to improving the quality of care provided to people with a learning disability or autism and to addressing the persistent health inequalities they face.
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Mike Wood: What steps his Department is taking to help tackle loneliness.
Jeremy Wright The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
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Mike Wood: Although I originally studied law and was called to the Bar, I never practised, so I hope I may speak in the debate without being tied to any particular interest. This debate is increasingly showing a division between those on the side of personal injury practitioners, and those on the side of the overwhelming majority of our constituents who face the costs arising from an ever-escalating number of claims, of escalating value, for relatively minor injuries. My right hon.
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Mike Wood: It is a particular pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this evening, Dame Cheryl; we are debating an issue on which you have done much, not only to raise awareness, but to transform the legislative framework in which we operate. I thank the Petitions Committee for ensuring that time was made available for the debate, and congratulate
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Mike Wood: Will my right hon. Friend confirm that, thanks to his efforts and those of the Department of Health and Social Care and of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust after the collapse of Carillion, work on the Midland Metropolitan Hospital will resume later this year, and the West Midlands will get another world-class hospital?
David Lidington Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
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Mike Wood: Will my right hon. Friend confirm that as well as direct legal expenses, related legal expenses in relation to responding to the consultation on the terms of reference will be met, so that the voice of victims and their families can be properly heard?
David Lidington Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
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Mike Wood: What discussions has the Minister had with ministerial colleagues at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport about bids to address period poverty through the tampon tax fund?
Victoria Atkins The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, Minister for Women
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It is a real pleasure to be able to speak in this debate and to follow the moving contributions of my hon. Friend
the Member for Eddisbury (Antoinette Sandbach) and many other Members.
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Mike Wood: What steps he is taking to improve mental health support for members of the armed forces and veterans.
Tobias Ellwood The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence
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I support the Bill today.
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Mike Wood: As my hon. Friend says, part of the problem is that so many hospital trusts are locked into long-term PFI contracts. Many of them were negotiated in the late 1990s or early 2000s and will shortly be coming up for renewal or expiry. Does she agree that now is the time to look at what provisions we can put in place to ensure that, as the contracts are renewed, they do not contain exploitative provisions that allow hospital trusts to take patients, as well as their families and visitors, for mugs by overcharging them for parking?
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Lucy Allan Conservative, Telford
It is a great pleasure to follow Melanie Onn, who made a very thoughtful and engaging speech on this important issue. I am very glad that so many Members are in the Chamber to take part in the debate.
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Mike Wood: Does the Minister agree that a police cell or a police station is not a suitable place for an innocent person suffering from mental health problems, and will she support initiatives such as the mental health triage projects in the West Midlands to make sure that people with mental health problems get the medical support they need when they need it?
Victoria Atkins The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
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Mike Wood: What assessment he has made of the effect of prisoners participating in sporting activities on improving rehabilitation rates.
Phillip Lee The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
There is strong evidence that physical education and sport improve the wellbeing and motivation of those in custody and ex-offenders in the community. Both improve their prospects of successful resettlement.
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Mike Wood & James Cleverly (Braintree)
What steps the Government are taking to support women back into work when they have had time out of the workplace to look after children or other relatives.
Anne Milton
(Minister of State (Education), Minister for Women)
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Mike Wood: Like other hon. Members, I wish to start by congratulating
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Mike Wood: I thank my hon. Friend for taking forward the excellent work begun by my hon. Friend Will Quince in the previous Session. He rightly says that most employers would grant leave under such terrible circumstances, were it asked for. Is not the point of the Bill that no parent should, in almost unimaginably horrible and difficult circumstances, have to make such a request and fear what the answer might be?
Kevin Hollinrake Conservative, Thirsk and Malton
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