That this House recognises the vital contribution of high streets and town centres to local economies, employment and community life; notes with concern the challenges facing town centre businesses, including declining footfall, changing consumer habits and competition from out-of-town retail parks where parking is often free; further notes research indicating that 63 per cent of consumers would visit town and city centres more frequently if free parking were available and that 38 per cent of independent retailers identify free parking as the measure that would have the greatest positive impact on their business; also notes the approaches taken by local authorities which have introduced free short-stay parking, including the London Borough of Harrow, where one hour of free parking has been made a permanent feature of its parking policy; believes that reducing the cost of short visits to town centres can form part of wider efforts to increase footfall and support local businesses; further believes that local authorities should be encouraged and supported to consider measures including free short-stay on-street parking, an initial free period in council-owned car parks and targeted free parking at particular times of day; and calls on the Government to work with local authorities to support and incentivise the introduction and evaluation of free short-stay parking schemes as part of wider strategies to regenerate high streets and town centres.

That this House recognises the vital contribution of high streets and town centres to local economies, employment and community life; notes with concern the challenges facing town centre businesses, including declining footfall, changing consumer habits and competition from out-of-town retail parks where parking is often free; further notes research indicating...

That this House notes the immense pride, joy and sense of unity that would be generated across the UK should the England football team win the FIFA World Cup; recognises the contribution of players, coaches, staff and supporters in bringing communities together through a shared national celebration; further notes the historic significance of such an achievement; and calls on the Government to consider declaring a national bank holiday following an England World Cup victory, allowing people across the country the opportunity to celebrate this exceptional sporting achievement together.

That this House notes the immense pride, joy and sense of unity that would be generated across the UK should the England football team win the FIFA World Cup; recognises the contribution of players, coaches, staff and supporters in bringing communities together through a shared national celebration; further notes the...

That this House recognises the essential work undertaken by specialist mental health legal aid practitioners in safeguarding the liberty, dignity and legal rights of people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983; notes that those practitioners represent some of the most vulnerable people in society in proceedings determining whether their detention should continue; further notes that the Mental Health Act 2025 strengthens patients’ rights and is expected to increase the need for timely and specialist legal advice and representation; is deeply concerned that mental health legal aid remuneration has not kept pace with inflation, rising operating costs, increased administrative requirements or the specialist accreditation and expertise required of practitioners; also notes reports that experienced practitioners are leaving the sector and that specialist practices, including providers serving Blackburn and the wider North West, are struggling to remain financially viable; believes that the closure of those practices would leave vulnerable patients without timely access to specialist legal advice and representation, resulting in potential delays in patients being discharged, delay hearings and undermine the practical effectiveness of the safeguards provided by Parliament; is concerned that the Legal Aid Agency mileage rate remains at 45 pence per mile despite the approved HMRC mileage rate having increased to 55 pence per mile from 6 April 2026; and calls on the Government urgently to review and increase mental health legal aid fees, uprate travel and mileage payments, and establish a mechanism for regular index-linked reviews.

That this House recognises the essential work undertaken by specialist mental health legal aid practitioners in safeguarding the liberty, dignity and legal rights of people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983; notes that those practitioners represent some of the most vulnerable people in society in proceedings determining whether their...

That this House notes the recent period of extreme heat across the United Kingdom, which exposed significant shortcomings in the ability of many public buildings to provide safe and comfortable conditions for those occupying them; recognises that patients in hospitals, residents of care homes, young children in nurseries and pupils in schools are among those least able to escape excessive indoor temperatures; further notes that prolonged exposure to high indoor temperatures can adversely affect health, wellbeing, learning and recovery from illness; believes that no patient, elderly resident or child should be expected to endure unsafe temperatures in buildings providing essential public services; and therefore calls on the Government to introduce mandatory requirements for the installation of air conditioning or equivalent effective cooling systems in all newly built hospitals, care homes, schools and nurseries, and to establish a funded programme to retrofit existing facilities, ensuring that these buildings remain safe, fit for purpose and capable of protecting those most vulnerable during periods of extreme heat.

That this House notes the recent period of extreme heat across the United Kingdom, which exposed significant shortcomings in the ability of many public buildings to provide safe and comfortable conditions for those occupying them; recognises that patients in hospitals, residents of care homes, young children in nurseries and pupils...

That this House recognises the severe and growing pressures within the special educational needs and disabilities system; notes with concern the shortage of specialist places and support for children and young people with the highest levels of need; believes that reform of SEND provision must not result in pupils being placed in mainstream classrooms where the necessary support, environment, staffing or expertise is not available; further believes that inclusion can only succeed where it is safe, properly resourced and appropriate to the individual child; further recognises that some children and young people require specialist school places, specialist units or properly staffed support settings in order to learn safely and effectively; expresses concern that any weakening of legal safeguards or independent routes of challenge would leave vulnerable children and families without meaningful protection; calls on the Government to increase specialist SEND capacity, including additional specialist school places, specialist units and properly staffed support settings; further calls on Ministers to retain enforceable legal rights, mediation and independent routes of challenge for families; and urges the Government to ensure that every child with SEND can learn safely, consistently and in an environment that meets their individual needs.

That this House recognises the severe and growing pressures within the special educational needs and disabilities system; notes with concern the shortage of specialist places and support for children and young people with the highest levels of need; believes that reform of SEND provision must not result in pupils being...

That this House notes with concern the persistent reports from new-build homebuyers across the UK regarding poor workmanship, unresolved defects, misleading practices and inadequate redress in the new-build housing sector; recognises that many homebuyers face significant distress, inconvenience and financial detriment when remedial works are delayed or improperly carried out; further notes that existing warranty and inspection regimes in many cases do not provide sufficient consumer protection or meaningful enforcement; therefore calls on the Government to introduce robust reforms to strengthen accountability, transparency and consumer confidence in the housebuilding industry; also notes that there is a growing need to implement meaningful sanctions where deliberate misconduct by a builder or its employees is proven, including but not limited to misleading advertising, the provision of misleading information, withholding of relevant information, deceit or prevarication, such sanctions to include loss of star ratings, disqualification from quality assurance schemes, and where appropriate, civil action for damages; and further recognises that these measures would improve housebuilding standards, increase trust and transparency across the sector, identify and remove persistently poor or inadequate builders from the market, strengthen buyer confidence in new-build homes, provide enhanced protection for vulnerable purchasers, and act as a meaningful deterrent to those who seek to operate dishonestly or without appropriate professionalism.

That this House notes with concern the persistent reports from new-build homebuyers across the UK regarding poor workmanship, unresolved defects, misleading practices and inadequate redress in the new-build housing sector; recognises that many homebuyers face significant distress, inconvenience and financial detriment when remedial works are delayed or improperly carried out;...

That this House expresses grave concern at the Government’s plans to expand the use of artificial intelligence and live facial recognition technology across England and Wales as part of its policing reforms; notes that nationwide deployment of facial recognition constitutes permanent mass surveillance of the public in everyday spaces; believes that such technology fundamentally undermines the presumption of innocence by treating all citizens as potential suspects; further notes the serious risks posed to privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and the right to protest, particularly in the context of recent mass arrests of peaceful demonstrators and proposals to curtail jury trials; is alarmed at the creation of a surveillance framework resembling a panopticon, with asymmetric state power exercised over the population without adequate statutory safeguards or democratic consent; recognises widespread concern from civil liberties organisations regarding misidentification, algorithmic bias and lack of meaningful oversight; and calls on the Government to halt the rollout of live facial recognition and AI policing technologies, to bring forward primary legislation for full parliamentary scrutiny, and to reaffirm its commitment to civil liberties, the presumption of innocence and democratic freedoms in the United Kingdom.

That this House expresses grave concern at the Government’s plans to expand the use of artificial intelligence and live facial recognition technology across England and Wales as part of its policing reforms; notes that nationwide deployment of facial recognition constitutes permanent mass surveillance of the public in everyday spaces; believes...

That this House expresses its grave concern at the Government’s proposals to abolish trial by jury in most cases other than serious crimes, such as murder, rape and manslaughter; notes that trial by jury is a centuries-old constitutional safeguard and cornerstone of English liberty; further notes that a jury of ordinary citizens provides a vital check on state power, ensuring that guilt must be proved not only to a judge but to one’s peers; believes that juries enhance fairness and impartiality through collective deliberation, bringing the common sense of the community to bear, reflecting local moral standards and equity; recognises that jury service educates citizens in civic responsibility and the rule of law, and helps sustain public confidence in the justice system; further acknowledges that the diverse life experiences of jurors enhance fact-finding, particularly in assessing credibility and complex evidence; is deeply troubled by the prospect that concentrating decision-making power in a single judge risks politicising the judiciary and undermining its independence; recalls that the protection of the lawful judgment of peers dates back to Magna Carta and remains a bedrock of the UK's legal tradition; and therefore urges the Government to explore alternative measures to address the Crown Court backlog, such as greater resourcing, process reform and innovation, rather than dismantling the jury system, which would constitute a profound assault on individual liberty, heritage and the balance of the legal system.

That this House expresses its grave concern at the Government’s proposals to abolish trial by jury in most cases other than serious crimes, such as murder, rape and manslaughter; notes that trial by jury is a centuries-old constitutional safeguard and cornerstone of English liberty; further notes that a jury of...

That this House notes that on 1 November 2025 members of rail staff, despite sustaining injuries, acted with exceptional courage to protect passengers, actions that British Transport Police have said undoubtedly saved lives; recognises that this incident has prompted renewed calls from rail unions, including the RMT and TSSA, for an urgent review of safety and staffing levels across the rail network; expresses grave concern that the Government’s ongoing plans for driver-only and driverless train operations risk reducing the human presence on board trains at a time when staff intervention has been proven vital to passenger safety; believes that trained staff are an essential safeguard and a source of reassurance for the travelling public; therefore calls on the Government to pause any rollout of driverless or fully unattended train services until an independent safety impact assessment has been completed; urges Ministers to commit to maintaining and increasing onboard staffing levels on all rail services; and further calls for a comprehensive public review of rail security and staffing, in consultation with unions, passenger groups and the British Transport Police, to ensure that public transport remains safe, staffed, and secure for all.

That this House notes that on 1 November 2025 members of rail staff, despite sustaining injuries, acted with exceptional courage to protect passengers, actions that British Transport Police have said undoubtedly saved lives; recognises that this incident has prompted renewed calls from rail unions, including the RMT and TSSA, for...

That this House is deeply concerned by the proposed closure of the Myerscough College Witton Park Centre in Blackburn; recognises the vital role the Centre plays in providing accessible further education and vocational training in land-based industries to young people across East Lancashire; notes that the closure would disproportionately impact students from disadvantaged backgrounds who rely on the Centre for local, affordable education and training opportunities; acknowledges the contribution of the Centre to local skills development, social mobility, and the wider economy; and calls on the Government to urgently engage with Myerscough College, Blackburn with Darwen Council, and other relevant stakeholders to explore all possible options to keep the Centre open and protect the future of high-quality land-based education in the region.

That this House is deeply concerned by the proposed closure of the Myerscough College Witton Park Centre in Blackburn; recognises the vital role the Centre plays in providing accessible further education and vocational training in land-based industries to young people across East Lancashire; notes that the closure would disproportionately impact...

That this House calls on the United Nations, alongside the Security Council, to take urgent action to facilitate humanitarian aid access to Gaza, in light of the statement by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs that 14,000 babies will die in Gaza if aid supplies do not get in to Gaza immediately and in response to the urgency of the escalating humanitarian crisis; and, recognising the importance of international cooperation, urges all willing member states to contribute resources and support to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential aid to the civilian population of Gaza.

That this House calls on the United Nations, alongside the Security Council, to take urgent action to facilitate humanitarian aid access to Gaza, in light of the statement by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs that 14,000 babies will die in Gaza if aid supplies do not get in...