Wera Hobhouse
MP for Bath · Liberal Democrat · United Kingdom
“Q4. Community energy is a fantastic way of empowering communities and helping with both energy security and the cost of living. The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee recently published a report in which we identified that people living around a community energy project still cannot buy that electricity because of complex market regul…”
“The 20% rate cut for music venues and pubs is of course very welcome, but what my high street in Bath really needs is an overhaul of the business rates system, which the Labour Government promised.”
“First, it would help us properly understand the scale of the problem. Without consistent recording, misogyny remains largely invisible in official data, despite being a common factor in many forms of abuse. Secondly, it would improve accountability.”
“That means that misogynistic content is not just present; it is incentivised and rewarded. For victims, the impact is devastating. They are ridiculed and humiliated, they face reputational damage, and they are left fearing for their safety in public.”
“The Government’s amendment to the Crime and Policing Act to recognise misogyny as an aggravating factor in some crimes is a welcome step in the right direction, but they must go further. That means amending the Sentencing Act 2020 so that all crimes motivated by misogyny are classed as hate crimes.”
“It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Edward. I congratulate the hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Tony Vaughan) on introducing the debate so thoughtfully. For months, I have been campaigning for legislation to combat the alarming trend of nightlife filming.”
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“I recognise the vital importance of the aviation sector, but any airport expansion —including at Bristol airport—should reflect the cumulative impact of emissions and our legal commitment to net zero. Does the Minister support the Climate Change Committee’s advice, published last year, that no airport expansion should proceed without a UK-wide capacity management framework?”
“Julian House is a homelessness charity that has been operating in Bath for nearly 40 years. Its lease is ending next year, and, with no route to capital or long-term funding, it faces closure. Can we have a debate in Government time on how to end short-term funding cycles for local authorities, which give them little choice but to retain charities on insecure, short-term contracts, which are so devastating for our most vulnerable and at-risk people?”
“I intend to give the lead Member two minutes at the end of the debate at 3.58 pm. I will call the spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats at 3.28 pm. I will not impose a formal speech limit for the time being. I hope there is time for everybody to come in.”
“Luke Myer will move the motion and the Minister will respond. I remind other Members that they may make a speech only with prior permission from the Member in charge of the debate and the Minister. As is the convention for 30-minute debates, there will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up.”
“I remind Members that they should be bob if they wish to be called in the debate. I wish to call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson at 5.8 pm, so I am imposing an immediate time limit of two and a half minutes.”
“Order. I will have to reduce the speaking time to two minutes. I remind hon. Members that if they take interventions, it eats into the time of those who are on the call list.”
“We know the solution—higher standards, proper funding for repairs and investment in insulation—but we continue to see piecemeal action and shrinking budgets. I urge the Government to act fast so all our constituents can live in safe, warm and secure housing.”
“I ask the Minister whether that represents a rowing back on the targets in the warm homes plan, or whether it is a reallocation of resources in the warm homes plan. The Liberal Democrats propose a 10-year insulation programme, starting with free insulation for the most vulnerable homes. If we want to reduce household energy bills, insulating homes is the place to start, so I hope that the Government will sincerely consider that. The state of our rental housing, both private and social, is simply not good enough. It is one of the many failures of the previous Conservative Government, so the new Government must now step up and deal with the problem. The stories from my constituents in Bath are echoed across the country: damp walls, black mould and cold, unliveable homes.”
“Thousands of homes in Bath are eligible for the warm homes grant, but a very small fraction will receive it. The programme is likely to be oversubscribed; I understand that there is a waiting list from the previous scheme that will account for the first year of upgrades. The ability to carry out funded work on homes helps to alleviate fuel poverty, improve health and reduce carbon emissions. Reducing the budget will have knock-on effects on all those areas. The other national awards reflect a similarly bleak picture. Once again, we had a winter in which our constituents suffered in cold and damp homes. I am not aware of any public acknowledgment from the Government that funding for home energy upgrades has been cut.”
“The Government have announced the warm homes local grant, aimed at improving the efficiency of low-income, low energy-performance homes. However, in the recent funding award, Bath and North East Somerset council will receive a fraction of the amount that it requested: just 26% of what was felt to be needed to carry out the work following consultation with the warm homes team. The existing consortium was awarded approximately £11 million over two years under the home upgrade grant phase 2. The programme has improved 80 homes in Bath, helping fuel-poor residents to save money on energy bills and benefit from a more comfortable and climate-friendly home, but it has been cut under the warm homes grant. The council is now receiving a reduced budget of just £4.5 million a year over three years.”
“A fundamental review of the rent and capital subsidy regime will make sure that providers can provide homes that are well maintained and managed, while also meeting their requirements to improve, regenerate and build new social housing. At the heart of this regeneration must be a programme of home insulation, which is something that Liberal Democrats have been asking about for a long time. Well-insulated homes stay warmer, so insulation is key to reducing energy bills. Much of the housing stock in Bath is Georgian and grade II-listed. These homes are in dire need of insulation, but listed buildings are more expensive to insulate because of the specific regulatory requirements. For many of my constituents, the cost of insulating their homes is just too high.”
“Social rents are set by the Government using a “consumer prices index plus 1%” formula, but successive Governments have capped, cut and changed this model. In 2003, for example, there was a 7% rent cap, despite the CPI reaching 11% that year; meanwhile, the average operating cost per household unit rose by 11%. The Government have ambitious house building targets, but that mismatch leaves providers struggling to maintain existing homes, let alone build new ones. Because funding is overstretched, increasing numbers of social tenants are not getting the repairs and upgrades that their properties need to prevent damp and mould in the first place. I ask the Government to look at this closely.”
“Is it any wonder that the NHS spends £1.5 billion every year treating respiratory illnesses? There have been small-scale trials in which heating vouchers were given to at-risk households as a preventive measure, helping to avoid illness and reduce pressure on health services. Why not roll it out nationally? It is not just privately rented properties with unaccountable landlords that have these issues. Many of the cases that I hear about come from tenants in social housing. My largest social housing association, Curo, has made it clear that housing providers face soaring costs. Repairs, decarbonisation, regeneration and new home delivery must all be funded from increasingly stretched social rents.”
“Member for Leeds Central and Headingley has pointed out, serious health risks can arise from mouldy and damp conditions. It was not long ago that a toddler in Rochdale died from prolonged exposure to black mould, yet MPs still hear every winter from constituents who are dealing with terrible cases of damp and mould. A constituent in Bath recently wrote to me that their walls are black with mould. Now, after months of relentless coughing, they have been referred for asthma testing. Another constituent described fungi growing up from the floor. Damp and decay have already damaged their belongings, and now they fear that the place they call home is no longer fit to live in. Such cases are prevalent across the country. One in four of the complaints that Citizens Advice receives is about disrepair, damp, mould or excessive cold.”
“It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Western. I congratulate the hon. Member for Leeds Central and Headingley (Alex Sobel) on bringing this important subject to Westminster Hall. The state of our private rental properties is an appalling open secret. One in four private renters live in fuel poverty; 1.6 million children are living in privately rented homes that are damp or mouldy. That is a shocking situation. As we know, the UK has some of the oldest and coldest houses in Europe. More than half of tenants had issues with damp or mould last year. In my constituency of Bath, 31% had problems with hot water or heating, and 21% of privately rented homes do not meet the decent homes standard. These numbers are simply not acceptable. We need tougher inspections and much higher standards. As the hon.”
“Does the hon. Lady agree with my social housing provider, Curo, that it is impossible for social housing providers to both build the new social and affordable homes that are required and maintain homes to a decent standard?”
“My constituents repeatedly raise with me the lack of affordable childcare as a key factor driving the gender pay gap. To give families real choice in those crucial early months, will the Government consider increasing paternity pay to 90% of earnings, with a cap for higher earners?”
“We need stronger regulations, and a binding code of conduct to prevent abuse and to ensure that all enforcement is appropriate and clearly communicated. Today, we are calling for a review of private parking enforcement. Too many of my Bath constituents are being caught out by unclear signage and unfair fines, while appeals processes are skewed against individuals.”
“Narrow Georgian streets and high visitor numbers mean that space for parking is in high demand. Parking regulations must be implemented fairly, with safeguards for lower-income households. Let us not forget the digital divide, which we have already heard about. As we move towards app-based payment systems, we must ensure that no one—especially the elderly or vulnerable, or those struggling with their kids—is left behind. We call for a requirement that all parking areas retain alternative, accessible methods of payment. Many of my Bath constituents—we have already heard about this issue this morning—have been hit with disproportionate fines from private operators, especially around retail areas and tourist hotspots.”
“Parking regulations are not about where we leave our cars, but about how we shape our communities, support our local economies and respond to the climate crisis. When done well, they should enhance our communities, not stifle them. They should be not a revenue source, but a planning tool to balance environmental priorities, support active travel and nurture vibrant neighbourhoods. They are not about declaring war on motorists; they are about our public spaces, which belong to us all. The Liberal Democrats have proposed a national framework for fair parking standards, with clear rules that ensure transparency in permit pricing, protections for small businesses and common-sense exemptions for essential workers. My Bath constituency is a beautiful and bustling city, but it is under pressure.”
“Indeed. We have already heard this today, but we must have a mandatory code of conduct. I have one constituent who was hit with a £100 fine by a private company, despite having spent the entire time parked in the business that owns the car park. When she went to the Independent Appeals Service—as some people dare to do—the review stated that the charge was in the region of £85, when it was actually a lot higher. That also raises questions about the quality of the appeals process. It is high time that we brought private parking more fully under statutory regulation, with a code of practice that puts fairness first.”
“On a recent visit to the breast unit of the Royal United hospital in Bath, specialists told me about a red flag system that could help to speed up care. If someone has a red flag symptom, such as a lump or a bleeding nipple, the triage team can book them straight into the breast clinic, rather than waiting to see a GP. Does the Secretary of State support such an approach?”
“Does the hon. Lady agree that it is shame that there has not been recognition from the Dispatch Box that there would be no premier league if there was no grassroots football? The better our grassroots football, the better the league will be.”
“I intend to call the Front-Bench spokespeople at about 7.5 pm. The debate is heavily oversubscribed, so I am putting an informal time limit of two minutes on all speeches. Even with that I might not get everybody in, but let us see how it goes. I call the Chair of the Transport Committee.”
“I am sorry, but I will have to stop Back-Bench contributions here. Members have been incredibly good at sticking to a very tight time limit. I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.”
“We are hearing about the previous Government’s efforts to save British Steel, and we have heard a somewhat confusing account of the deal that the now Leader of the Opposition negotiated. If such a deal existed, can we see a record of it?”
“Ineffective energy trading with the EU is a major barrier for global investors. According to Energy UK, we are losing out on £30 billion of investment in interconnectors alone. What will the Government do to improve our energy trading with the EU to unlock this vital opportunity?”
“Autonomous vehicles are the next step into the future. What discussions has the Secretary of State had with UK manufacturers to ensure that they can take full advantage of the next revolution in how we use cars?”
“That misclassification not only deprives families of closure, but hinders our understanding of the true scale of eating disorder-related fatalities. To better prevent such deaths in future, we must ensure that coroners’ reports accurately reflect eating disorders as contributory factors. Only by tackling these deaths can we gain a clearer picture of the impact of eating disorders, and take meaningful steps towards prevention and improved care. Accurate recording will raise awareness and ultimately save lives. It is high time that eating disorders are treated with the seriousness they deserve. We are all well aware of the many different parts of the NHS that require additional funding, but I have simply heard far too many harrowing stories about delays to treatment, inadequate care and premature inpatient discharge.”
“For example, someone suffering from anorexia and severe malnutrition may have their cause of death recorded as organ failure, without any mention of the underlying eating disorder. That is a crucial gap that we must address. The APPG has heard first hand from people who have experienced the heartbreak of losing a loved one to an eating disorder. One particularly moving example is that of the Laurence Trust, a Northern Irish charity founded by Laurence’s family after his tragic death. Laurence had struggled with bulimia and depression, and eventually suffered a fatal heart attack. His mother Pam shared with the APPG that his death certificate did not list the eating disorder as a contributing factor. Instead, the cause of death was recorded as undetermined.”
“Users who post much of this content are unwell and are not doing so maliciously, but social media can lead those who are already suffering further down the path of disordered eating. More needs to be done to hold social media companies accountable to legislation such as the Online Safety Act. Another issue of grave concern is the need for more accurate recording of eating disorder-related deaths, and a better understanding of the factors contributing to them. As we know, eating disorders are one of the most life-threatening mental illnesses, however, all too often they are not explicitly listed on death certificates, despite being a significant factor in the person’s death.”
“Under the Online Safety Act 2023, YouTube will have a responsibility to protect children from primary priority content such as eating disorders. Yet, YouTube still does not appear to be taking that seriously. In fact, algorithms are pushing the content in order to increase engagement. Harmful content viewed online can push children further into eating disorders that have a drastic effect on their health, wellbeing and life chances. From the evidence I have seen, I am concerned that, even when the provisions of the Online Safety Act 2023 come into force, the actions of those media giants may not change, which truly worries me. Social media is not the cause of eating disorders.”
“There is growing evidence that social media is linked to an increase in eating disorders among young people. Algorithms are showing harmful content to vulnerable people. Those include posts promoting fasting non-stop for days on end as a healthy lifestyle. There is an online trend of “thinspiration” posts, which glorify unhealthy weight loss. There have also been cases where, even after users have blocked certain accounts, they still see content that promotes eating disorders. In research conducted by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a fictional UK-based 13-year-old user watched a video about eating disorders for the first time. Following the video, one in four suggested videos were for harmful eating disorder content. More than half were for content relating to eating disorders or weight loss.”
“Those planned spending cuts come against a background of severely stretched children’s and young people’s eating disorder services: a 13% increase in referrals in the past 12 months; high thresholds to access services, resulting in more young people being in crisis; almost 800 urgent referrals still waiting for treatment at the end of December 2024; and a 30% true vacancy rate for all eating disorder consultant psychiatrist positions across England, as of March 2023. Following those troubling findings, will the Minister assure all of us here and across the country that all ICBs will invest sufficiently in those vital services in 2025-26 and beyond? As well as providing an increase in funding, we must take a close look at measures to protect children from harmful online eating disorder content.”
“That must continue, alongside investment in community and day-treatment programmes. To tackle eating disorders and develop effective treatments we need to understand them fully. Worryingly, the International Alliance of Mental Health Research Funders found that eating disorders accounted for just 1% of the UK’s already severely limited mental health research funding between 2015 and 2019. That is despite people with eating disorders accounting for around 9% of the total number of people with a mental health condition. Recent funding announcements are even more cause for concern. The Royal College of Psychiatrists found that 24 of the 42 integrated care boards planned real-terms spending cuts to children’s eating disorder services in the current financial year. That would result in real-terms cuts of well over £800,000.”
“That caused rapid relapse, sometimes in just a few weeks, leading to low body mass index and frequent readmissions, often to inappropriate units such as general hospitals or acute mental health wards. Ultimately, she was readmitted each time to a specialist eating disorder unit, under section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983. That is the only way she can complete meals without the need for nasogastric feeding. In addition to being deeply moving, this story drives home the importance of well-resourced specialist eating disorder units. We cannot cut back on those essential services and force those who are unsuited for discharge into community care. Specialist units are essential for keeping people alive, safe and supported, as they work towards recovery and reintegration into everyday life.”
“I recently had the privilege of hearing Nicky Smith share the story of her courageous daughter, who has been in in-patient services for over a decade. Unfortunately, during her long stays, she has not always received the treatment she needs. Her current stay is now in its 21st month. For the last eight months, her team has been trying to find an alternative placement for her complex needs. Sadly, she has been rejected by every service she has applied to and now faces discharge. Nicky and her daughter acknowledge that although some in-patient units are better resourced than others, being in in-patient care has saved Nicky’s daughter’s life and continues to do so. Over the last 12 years, the community eating disorder teams provided limited, inconsistent support.”
“Day services cannot always meet the needs of those with extreme malnutrition, and in-patient care is critical for many people who need high levels of physical, behavioural and psychological support. The strain on family carers, who often lack medical expertise, must be considered too. In-patient and day patient care must be part of a well-integrated, stepped care system. If those services are not co-ordinated nationally, gaps will form in the care pathway and patients may fall through the cracks. I agree with the Government that if people are treated in a timely manner in the community, there will be less need for costly in-patient care, but before we make any changes, we must ensure that all levels of care are adequately funded and can work in tandem to provide the best possible support.”
“During Prime Minister’s questions on 19 March, the Prime Minister emphasised the NHS’s goal of bringing eating disorder care closer to home. This is an important goal, but it requires equitable access to intensive community and day treatment, as highlighted in Beat’s report, “There’s no place like home”. Such services can reduce the need for costly hospital admissions and shorten stays for those who need in-patient care. However, Beat’s report shows that only one in six NHS integrated care systems in England currently offer enough intensive community and day patient treatments for both children and adults. Alongside this, it is crucial that we do not focus on only one end of the spectrum.”
“Too many people are waiting, too many people are failed and too many people are feeling neglected by the system. The eating disorders all-party parliamentary group, which I chair, recently published its report, “The right to health: People with eating disorders are being failed”, which highlights the increasing neglect we are seeing across eating disorder services—but that is by no means to say that those who are working in eating disorder services are not working their socks off. People with eating disorders are being told that they are not thin enough, that they are too complex, and in some situations are being moved on to palliative care and identified as treatment-resistant. That is why we are pushing for a complete reformation of eating disorder treatment alongside the development of a stand-alone eating disorder strategy.”
“I beg to move, That this House has considered eating disorder awareness. It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Stuart. Eating disorders are among the most serious and life-threatening of all mental illnesses, but they have been overlooked and underfunded for too long. Because of this, they have one of the largest treatment gaps in modern healthcare, and we must ask why that is. In the face of overwhelming need, why are we still ignoring this crisis, especially as it is a documented fact that recovering from an eating disorder is possible, no matter how long and complex the illness has been? In the past decade, we have seen an alarming rise in eating disorders—a trend that only worsened during the pandemic. What was already a struggling support system for those affected by eating disorders has collapsed under pressure.”
“I hope the Government have heard what I said today, and will act fast and decisively to ensure that eating disorder sufferers finally receive the treatment and care they all deserve. I have been chair and vice-chair of the APPG on eating disorders for the last six years. That is a long, frustrating time to see get worse something that one wants to get better, so I hope that today may be the start of us turning a corner.”
“It is clear we need an urgent and comprehensive overhaul of eating disorder care and treatment in this country to ensure that we do not lose our important inpatient care, and to massively improve community and day treatments. I add to what my hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (John Milne) said, that if eating disorders, or the underlying mental health disorders, are not prevented or cared for early enough, everything becomes so much worse further down the line. I repeat that we must address the role social media plays in promoting eating disorders and harmful content, especially to young people. We also cannot even begin to understand the depth of this crisis without accurate data regarding eating disorder-related deaths.”
“I totally agree. Unfortunately, there is a massive postcode lottery. Services need to improve across the country so that everybody, like my hon. Friend’s constituent, can get the treatment they need as close to home as possible, because carers are so important, and so that families can see their loved ones. In the last year alone, more than 30,000 acute admissions for eating disorders were recorded—that is a vast number. What was already an overstretched and under-resourced support system for those affected by eating disorders has now become a national emergency. Our APPG report sadly proved these systemic failures are costing lives.”
“It is important that we stress that an eating disorder is not a terminal illness and therefore should not fall under that legislation. I know that the hon. Gentleman and I agree on that; I think we disagree on his worries about how it would be treated, practically, in the future. An eating disorder is not a terminal illness.”
“I congratulate the hon. Member on being so brave in talking about his own experience. I, too, have a daughter who suffered from an eating disorder; she was not quite as ill as he describes his daughter being, but I am still visited by those hours—though they were many years ago—when I was gripped by fear and anxiety. It is only by sharing these stories that we can ultimately bring all this to light, so again I thank him for being brave enough to share that.”
“The Minister is making a powerful point. Demand is surging, yet it seems that investment from ICBs is going to fall. How can that be possible, and how is it morally acceptable?”
“We have heard about the Minister’s sharp elbows, and we have heard that there is hope. This debate is an annual event, and I hope that next year I am able to come here and say that the situation has got better, not worse. We owe it to all sufferers. As my hon. Friend the Member for Chichester (Jess Brown-Fuller) said, it is a moral outrage that we have continued to let the situation deteriorate. It has to get better. Next year, I want to be able to say that we have made real progress. The APPG and I want to work with the Government to make the situation better. Campaigners are there to help; we need to work together. I hope that it does not get worse for another year. Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House has considered eating disorder awareness.”
“First, thank you Mr Stuart for chairing your first Westminster Hall debate so well; you kept us in order and on time. I thank all Members for their wide-ranging, thoughtful and moving contributions. Sharing our stories can raise awareness, but it takes a lot of courage. As we have heard, eating disorders do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender or background. Although they disproportionately affect young women, it is important that we keep an eye on young men—we heard very good contributions on that. Eating disorders are a national emergency—I reiterate that even after hearing the Minister’s response. Although some things might be improving, as I said at the beginning, I have been here for six years and, on the whole, things have got worse, not better.”
“Ultimately, teaching children from a young age what a healthy relationship looks like is the most important thing that we can teach our children. It is time that we empower young people with a range of knowledge about healthy relationships, consent, online safety and inclusivity.”