To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any departmental special adviser took a leave of absence, or undertook a new party contract, to work on the Makerfield by-election.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any departmental special adviser took a leave of absence, or undertook a new party contract, to work on the Makerfield by-election.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of (a) the Makerfield Parliamentary by-election and (b) Parliamentary by-elections in general; and what information his Department holds on the cost of (i) the Greater Manchester mayoralty by-election and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of (a) the Makerfield Parliamentary by-election and (b) Parliamentary by-elections in general; and what information his Department holds on the cost of (i) the Greater Manchester mayoralty by-election and...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 29 May 2026, to Question 2754, on By-elections: Aberdeen South and Makerfield, if he will publish the reminder guidance issued to departments in the usual way by the Cabinet Office further to the three Parliamentary by-elections, and...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 29 May 2026, to Question 2754, on By-elections: Aberdeen South and Makerfield, if he will publish the reminder guidance issued to departments in the usual way by the Cabinet Office further to the three Parliamentary by-elections, and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the parliamentary by-election in Makerfield; what proportion of that cost will be met by (a) central Government, (b) the relevant local authority and (c) any...

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the parliamentary by-election in Makerfield; what proportion of that cost will be met by (a) central Government, (b) the relevant local authority and (c) any...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 16 February 2026 to Question 110418 on By-elections: Gorton and Denton, if he will publish reminder guidance that has been issued on the Makerfield and Aberdeen South by-elections.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 16 February 2026 to Question 110418 on By-elections: Gorton and Denton, if he will publish reminder guidance that has been issued on the Makerfield and Aberdeen South by-elections.

Andy Burnham can stand to be elected as an MP while he is mayor of Greater Manchester, but if he wins he is immediately disqualified from the mayoralty.

Andy Burnham can stand to be elected as an MP while he is mayor of Greater Manchester, but if he wins he is immediately disqualified from the mayoralty.

New writ for Makerfield (resignation of Josh Simons).

New writ for Makerfield (resignation of Josh Simons).

What steps her Department is taking to support the provision of grassroots sports facilities in Makerfield constituency.

What steps her Department is taking to support the provision of grassroots sports facilities in Makerfield constituency.

It is an unacceptable part of the Conservative legacy that almost 1 million young people are out of work or education and have little hope of a good start in life. That is why, as part of the plan to get Britain working, we will create a guarantee for all young people aged 18 to 21 in England to ensure they have access to high-quality training or an apprenticeship, or have help to find work. That plan will be vital to young people everywhere, including in Makerfield’s towns.

It is an unacceptable part of the Conservative legacy that almost 1 million young people are out of work or education and have little hope of a good start in life. That is why, as part of the plan to get Britain working, we will create a guarantee for all young people aged 18 to 21 in England to ensure they have access to high-quality training or an apprenticeship, or have help to find work. That plan will be vital to young people everywhere, including in Makerfield’s towns.

In the towns I represent, the largest type of private employment is the trades. Bricklayers, plumbers, electricians—these are the people who build our nation’s future and on whom our future security and prosperity depend. They are the working people the Labour party was created to represent. What is the Minister doing to ensure that more young people get into the trades, in particular partnering with local technical colleges like ours in Wigan and Leigh?

In the towns I represent, the largest type of private employment is the trades. Bricklayers, plumbers, electricians—these are the people who build our nation’s future and on whom our future security and prosperity depend. They are the working people the Labour party was created to represent. What is the Minister doing to ensure that more young people get into the trades, in particular partnering with local technical colleges like ours in Wigan and Leigh?

I thank my hon. Friend for that question because, as the Prime Minister says, we are the party of the builders. As my hon. Friend says, the Labour party was created to serve the simple principle that working-class people could run the country. The Department for Education is working closely with colleges and with us in the Department for Work and Pensions to create construction foundation apprenticeships from this August, which will give many more young people the tools they need for a career in the trades. That is in addition to DWP support for employers, which we have recently expanded specifically with those trades he mentions in mind.

I thank my hon. Friend for that question because, as the Prime Minister says, we are the party of the builders. As my hon. Friend says, the Labour party was created to serve the simple principle that working-class people could run the country. The Department for Education is working closely with colleges and with us in the Department for Work and Pensions to create construction foundation apprenticeships from this August, which will give many more young people the tools they need for a career in the trades. That is in addition to DWP support for employers, which we have recently expanded specifically with those trades he mentions in mind.

The rules and regulations that apply to employment, education or training in the Makerfield constituency should apply across this great United Kingdom. Many of those in the construction sector that the Minister referred to, whether they are builders, carpenters, plumbers, plasterers or electricians, come from my constituency of Strangford across to London, so it is important that people in my constituency and across Northern Ireland get the same opportunities through the colleges. Will the Minister ensure that discussions take place with Northern Ireland so that my constituency can continue to supply the people who build houses here in London?

The rules and regulations that apply to employment, education or training in the Makerfield constituency should apply across this great United Kingdom. Many of those in the construction sector that the Minister referred to, whether they are builders, carpenters, plumbers, plasterers or electricians, come from my constituency of Strangford across to London, so it is important that people in my constituency and across Northern Ireland get the same opportunities through the colleges. Will the Minister ensure that discussions take place with Northern Ireland so that my constituency can continue to supply the people who build houses here in London?

I pay tribute to all those from the hon. Gentleman’s constituency who have been part of building our whole country. We work very closely with the devolved Administrations across the United Kingdom to ensure that, as the Secretary of State laid out, chances and opportunities are there for everybody. I look forward to working with the hon. Gentleman as we move forward through our change programme.

I pay tribute to all those from the hon. Gentleman’s constituency who have been part of building our whole country. We work very closely with the devolved Administrations across the United Kingdom to ensure that, as the Secretary of State laid out, chances and opportunities are there for everybody. I look forward to working with the hon. Gentleman as we move forward through our change programme.

What steps she is taking to support young people into employment, education or training in Makerfield constituency.

What steps she is taking to support young people into employment, education or training in Makerfield constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to reduce firework misuse in Makerfield constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to reduce firework misuse in Makerfield constituency.

We know that the barriers to building more houses in towns such as those I represent in Makerfield are often political, not technical. For years, Conservative Members allowed themselves to become mouthpieces for the blockers and the naysayers, which is why, as co-chair of the Labour Growth Group, I welcome the commitment by the Secretary of State to back builders. What steps is her Department taking to increase the supply of housing in towns such as those I represent in Makerfield?

We know that the barriers to building more houses in towns such as those I represent in Makerfield are often political, not technical. For years, Conservative Members allowed themselves to become mouthpieces for the blockers and the naysayers, which is why, as co-chair of the Labour Growth Group, I welcome the commitment by the Secretary of State to back builders. What steps is her Department taking to increase the supply of housing in towns such as those I represent in Makerfield?

I welcome my hon. Friend to his place, and the reason he is here—he is absolutely correct on this—is that the previous Government did nothing to help house building, and we did not see growth either. This Government will reform our planning system, deliver a new generation of new towns, unblock stalled housing sites and reform the housing market, as well as delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation.

I welcome my hon. Friend to his place, and the reason he is here—he is absolutely correct on this—is that the previous Government did nothing to help house building, and we did not see growth either. This Government will reform our planning system, deliver a new generation of new towns, unblock stalled housing sites and reform the housing market, as well as delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in Makerfield constituency have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in Makerfield constituency have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution.