Jim Shannon
MP for Strangford · Democratic Unionist Party · United Kingdom
“I could give similar examples of my own constituents —all Members probably could—because we all know people who are alive and walking around the streets in our constituencies today, still with their families. I thank the hon. Gentleman for that.”
House of Commons29 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It is not just somebody being injured on a farm or having a road traffic accident; that can happen, but it could be a boating accident where the air ambulance comes to the rescue. Some of the air ambulance team are in the Gallery, and I thank them for all their information and comments. I will refer next to Bristol.”
House of Commons29 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“This is the thrust of the debate: when a helipad is unavailable, has restricted operating hours or cannot operate safely, additional challenges can arise in getting patients to the right place at the right time for treatment to save their lives.”
House of Commons29 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Many other hospitals have helipads that support emergency transfers and wider patient pathways. A national policy must recognise their contribution and ensure that their operational requirements are not overlooked.”
House of Commons29 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Member for North Cornwall sought the timescale; although not responsible for that, I know that the Minister will seek to get a timescale. Whenever I go to a meeting, whether it be with the roads service or hospitals, they always tell me what they are going to do and I say, “When will it happen?” That is the question.”
House of Commons29 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“The APPG for air ambulances has launched a report, and I have no doubt that the Minister has had a chance to look at its recommendations. I commend the APPG members, some of whom are present, for what they have done in outlining the case for safeguarded, 24/7 on-site hospital helipads at major trauma centres and specialist hospitals.”
House of Commons29 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
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“None the less, we must continue to listen to the concerns of victims’ families, because that is what motivates us all as elected representatives. As some Members highlighted, offenders can continue driving until conviction after causing a fatality, or can resume driving soon after leaving prison. When offenders receive a sentence and go to prison, it would be appropriate for them to have their driving licence removed. They should not be able to just resume driving as soon as they exit prison, in many cases probably after serving a small sentence. These gaps must be addressed, both to protect the public and to provide greater reassurance to families. In Northern Ireland, the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving remains 14 years.”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It is not for me to tell a judge that they are doing things wrong, because that is not my way of doing things, nor does my knowledge cover legal matters. However, I do believe that justice in these cases is best served by allowing judges to consider the unique circumstances of each case. It is clear that the system is largely effective, as 95% of those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving are sent to prison. The stats indicate that the majority receive a prison sentence, but often the cases that come to our attention are those in which there is no life sentence or no sending to prison. I should have welcomed the Minister to his place; I apologise for not doing so earlier. I wish him well in his role, and I hope that Members can get the answers that we seek from him.”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“In the last few years, the prevalence of motorists using drugs that affect their driving and make them a threat to others behind the wheel, has become a massive issue. The maximum penalty in England and Wales for causing death by dangerous driving is now life imprisonment, but in many cases, as the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Dame Siobhain McDonagh) says, it is not applied. The hon. Lady referred to the possibility of a mandatory life sentence for the crime. That is probably what I would seek as well, rather than leaving it to the discretion of the magistrate or the judge handing out the sentence. Judges retain a large amount of discretion, allowing them to assess individual culpability. I am not quite sure how that is done.”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell, and to be called to speak. I thank the hon. Member for Cardiff West (Mr Barros-Curtis) for securing this incredibly sensitive debate, and I thank all hon. Members for their contributions. By the very nature of life, we will have circumstances in our constituencies where someone has passed away or been killed as a result of a road accident or has died afterwards. I have to say this: I do not believe that anyone sets out in their car intending to take a life. Tragically, however, it does happen, whatever the reasons may be—from using a phone behind the wheel to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. I am old enough to remember when driving under the influence of alcohol was always the reason; then it was alcohol and drugs, or just drugs on their own.”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I look forward to hearing the Minister’s responses to my questions. The hon. Member for Esher and Walton (Monica Harding) referred to graduated driver licensing in Northern Ireland, which we introduced after a long consultation and deliberation with all the bodies concerned. That seemed to be a strategic way forward, and it has certainly been received well by all sections of the general public in Northern Ireland. Is that something that the UK Government and the Ministry of Justice will consider introducing?”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I commend the hon. Lady for securing this debate. The HCRG took over a substantial NHS contract to run the community health service in the south-west of England. I share her concerns about the long delays faced by patients: similar issues have come up in my constituency in Northern Ireland, where the group struggles to provide services due to worker shortages and lack of funding. Does the hon. Lady agree that the ability of private care providers to deliver NHS-contracted services effectively and reliably must be more thoroughly assessed before the contracts are handed out?”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I commend the right hon. Lady. I spoke to her beforehand, and I always look to be helpful by talking about what we do back home. In Northern Ireland, under section 31 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, each of our 11 district councils is legally mandated to operate its own bespoke scheme of delegation. Although that gives local authorities excellent democratic autonomy over local developments, it has at times led to the exact regional inconsistencies in application processing times that the new English model explicitly seeks to correct. Does the right hon. Lady agree that the learnings from Northern Ireland’s process should be shared to achieve best practice in planning and hopefully address some of the very issues that she is highlighting?”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Furthermore, what active steps have the Government taken to protect our schools, harden our cyber-defences, and ensure that our children and grandchildren are kept safe from the looming threat of radicalised terrorism?”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Q4. I wish the Prime Minister well on a personal level—may God bless him in what he does. On Monday 19 October, a calculated cyber-campaign targeted our most vulnerable with a co-ordinated hoax email threatening that explosive devices had been sent to up to 300 schools across Northern Ireland, and hundreds more in Scotland. That vile communication explicitly referenced Islamic terror and “Allahu Akbar”. The intense panic, fear and distress inflicted on thousands of young children and their parents were entirely real. Will the Prime Minister please outline what specific measures our security forces and services are taking to trace the source of those digital threats, which police indicate originated from outside the United Kingdom?”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“My right hon. Friend has rightly outlined the issue for hauliers in Northern Ireland, where we have to transport everything in and everything out. Does he also recognise that farmers—for instance, with tractors—as well as the farming community and the agricultural sector, also need to be considered when it comes to such help and provision?”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I commend the hon. Lady for bringing forward this debate—I spoke to her beforehand. This is not the Minister’s responsibility, but back home they have allocated £16,000 for flood resilience, which would hardly pay to get a JCB and a trailer down to where the coastal erosion and floods are happening. Does she agree that it is a case of penny wise and pound foolish? If we do not address flood resilience issues and coastal erosion now, we will pay substantially more later. The Minister should make the money available now.”
House of Commons28 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Cask ale is not just a commercial liquid in a glass; it is a living, breathing testament to an artisanal craft passed down through generations. It requires a meticulous partnership between the maltster, the farmer, the brewer and, most uniquely, the publican, who has specialised expertise.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Desmond. I commend the hon. Member for Burton and Uttoxeter (Jacob Collier) for introducing the discussion incredibly well. This issue cuts directly to the beating heart of our local communities, our economy and our shared cultural identity. It is always a pleasure to see the Minister in her place—Members always look forward to her responses, and she will not be found wanting today. I want to speak about the economic boosts, tourism potential and craft in relation to what the hon. Member for Burton and Uttoxeter said. The potential merits of recognising the production and serving of cask ale as intangible cultural heritage under the UNESCO framework are vast.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“By granting cask ale intangible cultural heritage status, we would protect the fragile living traditions that global corporate models have left behind. By seeking UNESCO intangible status for the production and serving of cask ale, we are not dwelling on the past but securing the future. We are protecting the fields of our farmers, the livelihoods of our independent publicans and the heritage of our people. I urge the Minister to work closely with the devolved Administrations to support our independent producers and back this campaign, ensuring that our unique hospitality and manufacturing heritage continues to thrive for generations to come.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“When we protect and celebrate traditional production methods, we do not just create jobs in the mash house or the bottling hall; we create a tourism boost and boom. We give people a reason to visit Strangford, stay in the guest houses, eat in the restaurants and sit in our historic pubs. It is worth reminding the House that even a giant like Guinness was once a traditional cask product, naturally conditioned in wooden barrels; however, the commercial shifts of the mid-20th century saw the multinational brewers abandon the cask system entirely in favour of highly processed, pasteurised kegs to maximise global shelf life. That is precisely why this debate is important and why we must act now. It is important for our independent craft brewers, farm distilleries and local publicans to step up and keep these historic skills alive.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Rademon Estate, through the passion of Fiona Boyd-Armstrong and her husband David, also promotes craft distilling and successfully marries historic estate heritage with a thoroughly modern, sustainable vision, powered by its own on-site hydro and wind energy. When we look at cask ale and the craft industry across this great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, those distilleries exemplify the preservation of the craft, the celebration of local raw materials and an unwavering commitment to quality that cannot be replicated by a mass production line. What do those world-class distilleries have to do with the perseveration of cask ale? It is simply this: they prove that liquid heritage is an economic and cultural engine.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I am proud to be British, probably more so than some people where I live. The safeguarding of intangible heritage can transform a region: look at the spectacular revival of the drinks and spirits sector across Northern Ireland. The liquid arts are part of our DNA in Strangford and across Northern Ireland. It does not brew cask ale, but the Echlinville distillery was Northern Ireland’s very first farm distillery. It crafts spirits from field to glass, by growing, harvesting and floor malting its own barley on site. That underlines the craft that goes into brewing ale and takes place in distilleries. Hinch distillery is another example; it brews triple-distilled whiskeys that are winning global acclaim.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I certainly do, and I am sure the Minister has taken note of the hon. Lady’s comments. In an age of mass-produced, globalised conformity, cask ale remains stubbornly and beautifully local. I want to bring a Northern Ireland angle to this vital debate, ever mindful of the hospitality industry, our independent producers and the social fabric of our communities. Elevating local crafts to the status of intangible cultural heritage would send an unequivocal message to policymakers at every level that our traditional liquid heritage must be actively nurtured, protected and legally accommodated, rather than stifled. The hon. Member for Burton and Uttoxeter highlighted the importance of that when setting the scene. He also mentioned British wealth and prosperity, and we are part of this Great Britain.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I thank the Minister for a very comprehensive and helpful response to our questions. What is important is not just the craft, but the tourism potential. Do the Government recognise that there is tourism potential for the economy to grow and create jobs and prosperity?”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I thank the hon. Member for securing the debate. Travelling long distances to attend schools creates anxiety, distress and sensory overload, potentially affecting children’s ability to engage in learning when in school. Does he agree that we must invest in developing SEND provision in mainstream schools to ensure that children can access appropriate support closer to home, with less travelling, less anxiety and fewer problems?”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Investment in social housing is urgently needed to end the distress so many people are in, and we must recognise that such investment will indeed deliver long-term benefits. It is needed to end the distress and the uncertainty faced by families who have been left in limbo as they wait for a home.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“As of June this year, 50,000 households in Northern Ireland with no existing Housing Executive tenancy were on the social housing waiting list. For those who are already in Housing Executive properties, the wait for a transfer can be long and needs can evolve. In August 2026, it was estimated that almost 800 households had spent over a decade on the waiting list for transfer. It would be great to see a light at the end of the tunnel, but unfortunately we do not. In rural constituencies, such as my constituency of Strangford, allocations of social homes have not kept pace with rising demand. The situation is particularly acute because rural areas have hidden housing need, older homes and increased exposure to fuel poverty.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“This is a massive issue. We see the effects of a lack of social housing on private rental properties. In 2025, rents reached the highest level on record, amounting to a staggering 36.1% of average earnings. Rental accommodation is out of the pockets of many and buying a house is just a dream. That perpetuates a devastating cycle, as wages fail to keep pace with rising living costs, including energy bills and food prices, pushing more people into poverty and increasing demand for our already limited social housing. I will quickly add a Northern Ireland perspective to the debate. In Northern Ireland, social housing is supplied by the Housing Executive, which face issues similar to councils in England.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy, and I say a big thank you to the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire (Chris Hinchliff) for securing this debate on an extremely pressing issue. The fact that so many hon. Members are present is an indication of that. In England alone, over 1.3 million households are on the waiting list for social housing and it has been estimated that if the speed of delivering new social homes continues at the current rate, it will take more than a century to clear the waiting list. For every social home delivered this year, about 110 households were still waiting for one. Despite those shocking figures, in 20% of council areas across England not a single social home has been built in the last two years, and in 30% of council areas fewer than 10 social homes have been built.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“We also need to remember that the Government are committed to building a million-plus social homes over the next period of time. Over the last 12 months, house prices in Northern Ireland have consistently risen by a greater rate than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. Housing rents are also going up. Will the Minister share the Government’s strategy to address the social housing need with the relevant Minister in Northern Ireland to ensure that we can learn something from the process that the Government are putting forward?”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I commend my hon. Friend for bringing this debate forward. The Ulster Farmers’ Union is represented here, and I declare an interest as one of those. Our national food security relies inherently on the economic viability of our local family farms. For the agrifood capital that is Strangford—my constituency—domestic farming is not just an industry. Does my hon. Friend agree with me and share my concerns that the family farm inheritance tax could well be the death knell for family farms in Northern Ireland?”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I commend the hon. Member for being stalwart in his campaign on this issue; it has been very well done. For too long a small minority of families who suffered severe adverse outcomes have been left stranded by administrative failures and the lack of fair support. Does the hon. Member agree that the promised reforms must be designed in direct collaboration with the vaccine-injured and their families, to ensure that they are treated with the dignity, speed and fairness that they deserve?”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I thank the Minister for her very comprehensive answers. Electronic monitoring of offenders can be a useful tool to manage prison capacity for individuals who have carried out non-violent crimes, but there are some serious concerns about regional co-ordination. Can she assure the House that robust safeguards are in place to ensure that private monitoring contractors are sharing real-time flawless data with police forces in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? What specific metric is her Department using to confirm that tagging systems are genuinely reducing offending, rather than being a sticking plaster for a broken system?”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I commend the hon. Gentleman for bringing forward the debate. He always brings incredibly important debates to Westminster Hall and the Chamber, including on the Adjournment, and I congratulate him on their standard and the contribution he makes to this House on behalf of his constituents, which is appreciated. He mentioned fostering. The Fostering Network found that only 33% of foster carers report that their allowances fully cover the cost of raising a child. Approximately 66% of people believe that they could be a good foster carer if there were no practical barriers. During this cost of living crisis, does he agree that we must recognise the additional pressures and that more must be done to financially support those who have a heart for fostering children to both take this on and be equipped to do so?”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I thank the Home Secretary for her answers and for her commitment to trying to stop knife crime. One of the greatest ways of stopping knife crime across this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is to ensure that people cannot buy knives. What is she doing to ensure that access to knives, whether through sections of the media or industry, is stopped? If we stop the knives, we stop the crime.”
House of Commons26 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I thank the Minister very much for her understanding of these issues and her perseverance in trying to deliver results. Everyone in the House can understand her annoyance. The facts are deeply concerning. While the Government and Capita point to putting in place specific milestones for what they count as “workable stock”, the hard data shows that hundreds of priority bereavement and death-in-service cases remain completely trapped, some over 100 days old. Given that the independent remedial adviser and technical audit reports are due this month, will the Minister outline exactly what robust commercial penalties or legal enforcement measures are being prepared against Capita if it fails to restore full contractual service levels immediately?”
House of Commons26 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“What can be done to ensure that charities working in Northern Ireland can also receive some of this help, and will the Minister give an undertaking to work with the Minister for Communities in the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure that delivery can happen across this great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?”
House of Commons26 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I thank the Minister very much for her statement. It is good to hear that her voice has recuperated after Thursday’s debate on Black Lives Matter. When it comes to the £432 million that has been allocated, churches across this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland do lots of work for homeless people, including in Northern Ireland. The Salvation Army that operates in my constituency of Strangford operates across this great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as do veterans charities. In other words, the charities that work in Northern Ireland and here do the same work.”
House of Commons26 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I thank the Chair of the Committee for her recommendations and for the hard work that the Committee does. When it comes to work-based immigration, has the Committee had the opportunity to look at seasonal visas for those in the fishing sector? The right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) and I have been pushing the Minister for some time to agree seasonal visas for the fishing sector. Previous meetings with Ministers would seem to suggest a way forward. I am ever mindful that this life is about solutions and opportunities. These people do not want to come to live here; they just want to come for a short period of time, earn money and send it home—and go home as well. Has the right hon. Lady had the opportunity to look at that?”
House of Commons26 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I very much welcome what the Chair of the Select Committee has put forward. If we removed the word “Scotland” from the report and replaced it with “Northern Ireland”, every recommendation would be the same for us. I think of some of the things we have done in Northern Ireland. For instance, Thales has organised apprenticeships where the students get their fees paid, and they also get a wage. Has the Committee had an opportunity to look at how that could be done in Scotland? Has it also looked to ensure that men and women—especially young girls and young ladies—can have opportunities in engineering projects for the future?”
House of Commons26 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I commend the hon. Member. Just last week we had a debate in Westminster Hall, and today hon. Members have a chance to ask the very same questions. What is happening to independent traders in my constituency, in Newtownards, Comber and the Ards peninsula? Delays are choking cash flow, ruining customer relationships and threatening their very survival. Royal Mail has got to grasp the nettle and get it right—now, not later.”
House of Commons26 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“You were very clear, Ms Furniss, about being allowed one question; I hope you will forgive me for my three ideas around the one point.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I thank the Chair of the Select Committee, and the Committee itself for all its hard work. Advanced technology is what the Government are tasked with doing. Moving forward with modern technology is the way forward; however, I have two quick comments. First, on the relationship between Government and business, it is important that businesses are able to keep up with the Government’s technological advances. That is the same for individuals. I am not tech savvy, and nor are some of my constituents. The Government’s way of doing business could limit their interaction with Government and their ability to take part. The hon. Lady also wisely referred to data protection. Many of us are suspicious of where our data ends up. I have made three points there.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“If the Government dispute the figures, I ask that they publish a detailed breakdown and analysis explaining the difference, which will give us all a chance to come back on that. I will conclude on this point, as I am conscious that others want to speak. If the £100 million contingency remains necessary to cover longevity risk, let us see the evidence. If money can be released, I ask the Minister to set out a plan for doing so. I hope that will be the answer to our queries today. If it is, it would be a massive step forward. I thank the Government for recognising that my constituents need help, but more needs to be done right now, and I look forward to hearing from the Minister how that can be accomplished.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“If those figures are correct—I understand that they are based on Government-published documents, ministerial correspondence and freedom of information requests that are on record, so the Government have to acknowledge that they are—I ask the Minister for an explanation as to why those funds cannot be redirected towards further compensation right now, because they should be. If they are not correct, we need to understand how and why, although I suspect that as Government figures, they are correct. The victims of maladministration deserve to know whether the Government are holding on to money that could be put to the use that Parliament intended when legislating for the Equitable Life payment scheme.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I must put this on the record on behalf of my constituents: victims of this scandal are concerned that, as well as their having to bear a cut of their acknowledged losses of 78%, the Treasury may be trying to pocket, through clever accounting tricks, more than 10% of the limited compensation that was allocated. I believe that that is a question that must be asked, and the Minister has to answer it on the record. Can the Minister confirm that the £625 million allocation for the with-profits annuitants was calculated on a discounted basis? Can he also confirm that at the outset of the compensation scheme, cash payments to that cohort were forecast to total some £836 million, so the total cash spend under the scheme was forecast to be around £1.7 billion?”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I appreciate that the Minister may wish to distinguish between money that has not yet been spent, money reserved for future liabilities and money that can genuinely be released. That is a legitimate distinction—I understand that—but it makes the need for transparent accounting all the more important. I am sure that the Minister will give us the answers we are seeking. The Government must explain to those affected precisely how much was forecast to be spent, how much has actually been spent and what liabilities are thought to remain outstanding.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“The EMAG figures also state that approximately £171 million of compensation funding was expected to be unspent as of 31 May 2025. There are three clear elements to that figure. First, approximately £47 million is from the lower-than-forecast annual payments to the with-profits annuitants. Secondly, a £100 million contingency was held back in case those annuitants lived longer than expected; the fact that annual payments to annuitants are significantly below forecast strongly suggests that that contingency is no longer needed. Thirdly, approximately £24 million of the £775 million allocated for other policyholders was unspent—for what reasons, it is unclear. Answers are needed, and I would like to see answers on that unspent figure if possible.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“The distinction clearly matters, because Government must be transparent about what was committed when, what the forecast spend was and what is now expected to be required. We always thank the Library for the information it gives us, and its briefing on this says: “The scheme was set up in 2010 to make payments to eligible policyholders who had suffered a ‘relative loss’ (meaning the policyholder would receive less under the Equitable Life policy than they would have if they had invested with a different company).” In his intervention, the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Dr Rushworth) referred to the fact that people saw Equitable Life and said, “This is the one to invest your money in”. But that did not work out, and it is clear that that has been the issue right down the line.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I will start with the figures: in 2010, the Government allocated £1.5 billion to compensate victims of the Equitable Life scandal. That allocation was divided into three principal elements: £625 million for the with-profits annuitants via annual payments for life; £100 million held by the Treasury as a contingency in case those annuitants lived longer than expected; and £775 million for other policyholders. The £625 million allocation for the with-profits annuitants was not the total amount of cash expected to be paid over the lifetime of the scheme, it was a discounted valuation of future payments. EMAG has established that the forecast cash cost of those payments was £836 million, extending to 2050.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I will focus on one specific issue that I believe requires immediate attention and answers from the Minister: the apparent underspend in the existing compensation scheme and whether funds originally set aside to compensate victims are being retained when they could have been used to provide the redress. At the heart of this is a simple question. If the Government have acknowledged that people suffered losses because of serious regulatory maladministration, and if money was allocated to compensate those people but it will not be spent for a particular cohort or purpose, should that money return to the Treasury or should it go to the people who were wronged? I suggest the latter. This is not an abstract accounting question; it is one of fairness and public accountability.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I fully recognise that, as was the case in 2010, the state of the public finances is not as we would wish, and the competing demands on the Government are legion. But there are some principles that we should uphold at all cost. I hope that the Government will set out a path to ensure proper justice and fairness for those people affected, as they have rightly done in other important cases. I am always pleased to see the Minister in his place, and I hope that he can give us the answers and reassurance that we seek on behalf of our constituents.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Furniss. A big thank you to the hon. Member for Leeds North East (Fabian Hamilton) for setting the scene incredibly well, as he always does in subject matters that he brings to Westminster Hall and the Chamber. He has been very much at the fore in leading the campaign for this. He clearly set out the injustice suffered by Equitable Life policyholders and made a compelling case for proper compensation. I do not intend to repeat everything that the hon. Gentleman said, but the core argument underlying this unresolved issue is profoundly important. When the state accepts responsibility for a mistake, and acknowledges the financial losses flowing from it, the state should make good in full.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“The 200 men who marched from Jarrow some 90 years ago should never have had to walk to London to make their demands, but they did, and they perhaps changed a part of history. That encourages us all as we look forward. Similarly, young people today should not feel that they have to go to extreme lengths to be heard by the Government. Like the Prime Minister, I hope for a change that makes a difference, encourages our young people, lifts this nation and makes us more united so that we can do better for our people and young people of the future. To the hon. Member for Jarrow and Gateshead East, I again say well done.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“In the Prime Minister’s commitment, I see an opportunity to encourage our young people and give them hope for the future. Not that I am better than anybody else, but when the Prime Minister came here to take his oath, I saw him beforehand. I remember him from when he was last here in 2015. I shook his hand, gave him a hug and wished him well. I said, “Prime Minister, our people need hope. Our people need encouragement. That’s what I ask you to do for our people.” The Prime Minister’s word has been “hope”, not because I said it to him, but because he appreciated—perhaps we both appreciated—what the word was to be. The concern must be acted upon. I call on the Government to grow British industry and invest in job creation to ensure that our young people are supported into employment.”
House of Commons22 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗