Sonia Kumar

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

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320 held · 313 searchable for Sonia Kumar. The searchable lines are below in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 7.

This is not an official version of UK Parliament proceedings. It reproduces the published record and links to it; the official version is the one UK Parliament publishes.

1. “Approval rates for funding are lower for women, and too often they must pitch to all-male investment panels. Evidence from early-stage equity markets shows that male investors express less interest in female founders, whereas female investors are more likely to back them. For black female entrepreneurs, the challenge is even greater: between 2009 and 2019, a mere 0.02% of venture capital funding went to black women. This is not just a disparity issue; it is an economic one. The 2019 Rose review estimated that £250 billion could be unlocked for the UK economy if women were supported to start and scale businesses at the same rate as men. Adjusted for inflation, the figure now stands at a staggering £310 billion. That is the scale of the opportunity we are failing to unlock.”

   House of Commons18 November 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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2. “The Bill seeks to confront one of the most urgent and entrenched inequalities in our economy: the persistent barriers that women in business continue to face. Despite the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation demonstrated by women across the United Kingdom, they remain significantly under-represented among recipients of capital and public financial support. The evidence is stark. In 2024, just 2% of UK equity investment went to female entrepreneurs—a decline on the previous year. Over 80% of venture capital funding is allocated to male-dominated businesses, despite research confirming that women-led businesses deliver, on average, a 35% better return on investment. However, women typically start businesses with 53% less capital than men do, and the loans they receive are, on average, 68% smaller.”

   House of Commons18 November 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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3. “What measures is the Home Secretary taking to dismantle the criminal gangs that are exploiting both legitimate and illegitimate businesses to facilitate illegal channel crossings? Can she give us details of the regulatory action that is being taken to prevent the use of assets such as shops on our high streets, and to prevent the supply of life jackets, boats and other components needed for dangerous crossings by illegal immigrants and criminal gangs?”

   House of Commons17 November 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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4. “T8. What support can the Minister offer the Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust, which seeks to open up canal access to the hidden gem at Wren’s Nest, which is part of the UNESCO geopark? That would help boost sustainable tourism, give access to residents, and highlight the site’s international geological significance.”

   House of Commons13 November 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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5. “I welcome the Labour Government’s progress on policing, including Dudley town centre’s new police station, which will open this year, and the new police officers being redeployed to Dudley borough in April. Given the urgent need for police reform, will the Minister go one step further and commit to reviewing the west midlands’ outdated funding formula, which does not align with local crime and deprivation levels?”

   House of Commons13 November 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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6. “I warmly welcome the statement. With improved medical care, earlier diagnosis and greater awareness, more children with special educational needs are being identified. How will my right hon. Friend ensure that schools have the right environment, staff, funding and resources for SEND children to get the most of the positive changes in the curriculum?”

   House of Commons5 November 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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7. “In Dudley, we have the Pensnett estate, one of the largest industrial estates in Europe. It is home to nearly 200 businesses, including a variety of SMEs, ranging from plumbing to steelworks. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that SMEs in Dudley have the time and the space to bid for contracts? Will the Minister agree to hold a roundtable on defence on the Pensnett estate?”

   House of Commons3 November 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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8. “What steps is the Department taking to improve access to finance for UK start-ups seeking to scale up, given that only 1% of UK start-ups raise equity of more than £100 million? By comparison, in the US, 6% of start-ups do so. Furthermore, how can we ensure that women get a fair share of access to finance?”

   House of Commons30 October 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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9. “As we approach Remembrance Sunday, we honour those who gave their lives for our freedom, and remember the often overlooked women who served as codebreakers and factory workers, and in countless vital roles. In light of that, I have written to Dudley council asking it to permanently install the first ever women of war silhouette, funded by the Sedgley townswomen’s guild. I thank its members for their dedication. Will the Leader of the House join me in remembering the thousands of women who served, and continue to serve, and will he make time for a debate about their contribution?”

   House of Commons30 October 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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10. “I recently returned from Kyiv, where I visited a rehabilitation centre supporting those injured by the Russian invasion. I was deeply moved by the dedication of the Ukrainian clinicians working under immense pressure. As a physiotherapist, I recognise the vital role that allied health professionals play in recovery. It was Allied Health Professions Day last week, and I would like to thank all the dedicated clinicians for the unconditional service they provide every single day. Will the Leader of the House agree to a debate on the importance of healthcare professionals collaborating internationally to help Ukrainians and the UK?”

    House of Commons23 October 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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11. “After months of campaigning, public meetings, presenting a petition, sending letters, meeting Ministers, holding a day of action outside Ladies Walk and scrutinising Dudley council, I am delighted that the Ladies Walk Centre in Sedgley, a vital community hub providing NHS and library services, will remain open. This is a victory for local residents, who rightly oppose Dudley council’s near-closure of the site despite its chance to renegotiate the lease five years ago. Will the Leader of the House welcome this news and grant a debate on local government transparency?”

    House of Commons16 October 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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12. “The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to stop the privatisation of Sycamore Adventure Centre, guarantee that access to the centre remains open and free (or affordable) to all families, preserve the current number of play sessions and hours of operation, and work with local residents, staff, and young people to protect and enhance the centre as a valued community resource. And the petitioners remain, etc.] [P003117]”

    House of Commons15 October 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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13. “And the petitioners remain, etc.” Following is the full text of the petition: [ The petition of residents of the constituency of Dudley. Declares that Sycamore Adventure Centre has served as a vital, safe, and inclusive community space for children, young people, and families in the area; that for decades, it has been more than just a play site — it has fostered community cohesion, supported children’s physical and mental health, and given young people a place to explore, learn, and grow; that the petitioners call for an immediate halt to the proposed privatisation of Sycamore Adventure Centre, which would reduce accessibility by introducing fees or limitations that restrict entry for families already facing financial hardship, cut down play opportunities and available hours, leaving children with fewer safe and constructive activities, undermine community ownership of a space that belongs to all of us, shifting its priority from public benefit to private profit; and that public recreational spaces like Sycamore Adventure Centre must remain publicly funded, publicly run, and accessible to all.”

    House of Commons15 October 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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14. “The petition “declares that Sycamore Adventure Centre has served as a vital, safe and inclusive community space for children, young people…in the area; that for decades, it has been more than just a play site—it has fostered community cohesion, supported children’s physical and mental health, and given young people a place to explore, learn, and grow…The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to stop the privatisation of Sycamore Adventure Centre, guarantee that access to the centre remains open and free (or affordable) to all families, preserve the current number of play sessions and hours of operation, and work with local residents, staff, and young people to protect and enhance the centre as a valued community resource.”

    House of Commons15 October 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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15. “Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling me to present a petition this evening on behalf of the constituents of Dudley. Despite the Conservative council pledging funding in a public question and answer session in April, the Sycamore Adventure Centre is due to be privatised, with a risk of a hike in entrance fees. The centre must remain solely controlled by Dudley council.”

    House of Commons15 October 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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16. “I warmly welcome the Minister to his place. In the light of the cyber-security breaches survey published in April 2025, which reported that 43% of businesses and 30% of charities experienced a cyber-attack last year, what steps is he taking to strengthen national cyber-security? How are the Government working with businesses and charities to improve prevention and ensure better intelligence-sharing, as a matter of national security?”

    House of Commons9 September 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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17. “The Sycamore adventure centre in Upper Gornal has been a lifeline for children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, for over 15 years. Yet despite pledging funding for it for five years in April in a public Q&A, the Conservative-led council is now forcing it to be privatised, with uncapped entry costs, reduced play areas and hours, and no proper consultation. Children face losing vital access to this centre. Does the Leader of the House share my outrage and will she grant time for a debate on protecting community assets?”

    House of Commons4 September 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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18. “I warmly welcome the statement. Families in Dudley are now benefiting from 30 hours of Government-funded childcare, including new places in school-based nurseries such as at Beechwood Church of England primary school in St Thomas’s, one of the most deprived wards in the borough. Can the Minister set out how this expansion, alongside more support for parents and investment in early years staff, will help children to start school ready to learn and succeed in the future?”

    House of Commons4 September 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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19. “Save the Children reports that 61% of pregnant women and new mothers in Gaza were malnourished in early August: a sharp rise linked to the blockade and health system collapse. Will the Government consider enabling the medical transfer of pregnant women needing specialist care to the UK and outline their strategy for supporting Gaza’s long-term recovery, stability and maternity health? These children are the future of the two-state solution.”

    House of Commons2 September 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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20. “At the start of the summer, I welcomed the Government’s decisive action in sanctioning Chinese companies involved in manufacturing and supplying boats used by criminal gangs to facilitate dangerous channel crossings. Disrupting those supply chains is a vital part of smashing the gangs. Will my right hon. Friend update the House on what discussions she has had with international counterparts to co-ordinate efforts to target those companies and ensure that the sanctions are enforced globally?”

    House of Commons1 September 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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21. “Residents of the new Goodrich Mews estate in Gornal, which was completed in 2013, have been dealing with a collapsed retaining wall for years now. The management agency originally confessed that it was poorly constructed, and it was repaired. It should have had a 60-year lifespan after that, but it has once again collapsed, and the management agency is demanding £6,000 from local residents to repair the wall. This is simply disgraceful and completely unjust. Will the Leader of the House grant a debate on holding builders, housing developers and management agencies to account to protect residents and deliver value for money for residents?”

    House of Commons17 July 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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22. “Over the past 14 years, police forces have faced significant cuts to personnel and resources. While many areas are returning to 2010 staffing levels, the west midlands still has 540 fewer officers. I support the efforts of the police and crime commissioner, Simon Foster. How can we address the funding gap caused by an outdated national formula that has disadvantaged my Dudley constituents?”

    House of Commons7 July 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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23. “I warmly welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement. In Dudley, our family hub is in St Thomas’s, one of the most deprived wards in the borough. Currently, it provides parent groups, baby clinics, prenatal support and much more, but its funding is uncertain. Will my right hon. Friend outline how the new announcement will enhance the hub, so that families can continue to receive vital services, including SEND support?”

    House of Commons7 July 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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24. “Will the Leader of the House agree to a debate on the growing number of empty shops in town centres? In Dudley, the Conservative-hiked parking charges, current poor transport links and antisocial behaviour as well as the rise of online shopping are driving businesses away, damaging our local economy and community life. Town centres are vital spaces where people can meet each other; they foster a sense of belonging and pride, and they need to be revitalised.”

    House of Commons3 July 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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25. “As an NHS physiotherapist, I warmly welcome the Secretary of State’s statement and the ambition set out in the 10-year plan. In Dudley, we are already seeing the positive changes of a Labour Government in bringing down waiting lists. With renewed focus on community care, will my right hon. Friend commit to empowering allied health professionals to lead the neighbourhood health centres, building on the successful model that we have seen in Suffolk and North East Essex? Does he agree that we need more healthcare on the high streets?”

    House of Commons3 July 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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26. “Some 58% of investors think it is important that stocks and shares ISAs are invested in UK companies. Currently, it is estimated that £100 billion is held in the cash ISAs of people who do not have stocks and shares ISAs. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to encourage further investment in UK stocks and shares, and investment in UK companies?”

    House of Commons1 July 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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27. “Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the Black Country Living Museum in my constituency, which was recently named the best large visitor attraction in the country by VisitEngland? The museum brings to life the Black Country’s rich heritage through the reconstruction of shops, houses and industrial areas, telling the story of this revolutionary period in our history. Will she also make time for a debate in Government time on supporting world-class visitor attractions, which contribute so much to our local and national economies?”

    House of Commons26 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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28. “I thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate. In my constituency, I am proud to have a number of war memorials, such as Upper Gornal on Kent street and Woodsetton on Sedgley road. Does my hon. Friend agree that memorials are not just places for quiet reflection and paying our respects, but a physical site for learning and sharing knowledge with residents, so that we never forget the sacrifices that they made?”

    House of Commons24 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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29. “I welcome the Secretary of State’s calls for a durable diplomatic solution: no one benefits from the continuation of this conflict. Will the Foreign Secretary outline what steps the Government are taking to ensure peace and prevent war in the region, particularly guaranteeing that the strait of Hormuz remains safe for our liquefied natural gas and oil tankers? Securing that trade route is essential for global stability and economic security, including Iran’s.”

    House of Commons23 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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30. “I warmly welcome the statement. Will the Secretary of State outline what measures are being taken to ensure that towns like Dudley—which is actually the birthplace of the industrial revolution—receive their fair share of economic regeneration and job creation, and that the current infrastructure in cities is further invested in to generate growth?”

    House of Commons23 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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31. “We need a joined-up service between GPs, hospitals, clinics and patient groups. Perhaps we could have more sympathetic and subtle signage in healthcare settings. Products provided outside healthcare settings could have simple labels on shelves, such as “body care” instead of “incontinence products”. That tackles the embarrassment of being seen by a friend or neighbour buying them in the shops. I urge the Minister, as the 10-year plan nears publication, to ensure that bladder and bowel care is included. Much needs to change, but today I have five concrete asks for the Minister. First, we need a public information campaign to raise awareness and smash the stigma, as recommended by Dr Sara Webb of the Royal College of Midwives. The NHS rightly spends millions on campaigns, such as cancer screenings, the use of 111 and sepsis awareness.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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32. “We are letting too many people down. So what must change? We need to talk about the taboo, and we need action. We need a renaissance of public toilets: to maintain the ones we have, open the ones that are closed and build new ones. I want to see bins in both men’s and women’s toilets, so people can throw these products in the bin. I support the Boys Need Bins campaign by Prostate Cancer UK, and I congratulate the all-party parliamentary group for bladder and bowel continence care for its work. I ask that this place be a pioneer in this space by placing bins in all men’s toilets. We also need better food labelling, so that fibre is listed on products and people can understand how they can get better bowel health. We need to ensure that the AI and robotics revolution in healthcare does not miss bladder and bowel care.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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33. “Men, especially those with prostate cancer, were reluctant to take part in self-help groups, and many men did not even know they had a pelvic floor and thought only women did. Yet symptoms can be easily treated with the right interventions, treatments and course of rehabilitation. Research shows that for every £1 spent on women’s health services, there is a return of £13, thanks to a reduction in emergency admissions, fewer missed days at work and better long-term health outcomes. I know the Department of Health and Social Care is consulting on the men’s health strategy, and I trust that the Minister will ensure that this aspect of men’s health is front and centre. The DABB service calls itself a “Cinderella service”. The testimonies of patients and professionals is humbling to hear, but it makes me so angry.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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34. “Dawn eventually received specialist care, and her symptoms have vastly improved. She only gets the odd leakage here and there. Her advice to others is “see your GP… don’t leave it and ask for a referral to see a specialist”. I had the privilege of seeing one such specialist service in my constituency—Dudley adult bladder and bowel service, known as DABBS—where I met patients and practitioners like Ola Rawlins, team lead and clinical pelvic health physiotherapist, who shared her story, which was eye-opening. Patients told me how GPs ask about bowels but seldom bladders. A patient—Leanne—said she felt ignored, fobbed of and misdirected. One felt like a “prisoner”. Ola’s patients felt like a ball bouncing around different parts of the system.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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35. “Her symptoms got worse, and she was unable to leave the House. The gynaecologist referred her to a physiotherapist and specialist nurses. I asked what went wrong here: it was the lack of prevention. Prevention, prevention, prevention is key. Physiotherapy is recommended as an integral part of women’s health, especially with pelvic floor dysfunction. According to the 2019 NHS long-term plan, “Physiotherapy is by far the most cost-effective intervention for preventing and treating mild to moderate incontinence and prolapse”. Insufficient physiotherapist numbers mean that women who experience pelvic floor dysfunction or prolapse wait months or years, or miss out on treatment entirely. Women often end up needing surgery that could have been avoided with earlier intervention.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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36. “My first ask of the Minister —and I have several—is, why not? The House will note—notwithstanding the title of the debate—that I avoid the terms “incontinence” and “continence”. I have spoken to so many people with bladder and bowel conditions, and my feeling is they are the wrong words to use and they carry too much stigma. To give justice to the debate, I have conducted roundtables with experts and patients and have shared anonymous surveys. Dawn shared her story with me. She noticed some urinary leakage 10 years ago, when she was 50. Now, at the age of 60, she spoke to me about her journey. She did not go to the GP because she felt ashamed. It got worse and she began to see the gynaecologist. She got the strength to speak to the GP, who gave her tablets. Three rounds of tablets did not work.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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37. “One in 12 children across the UK battle these debilitating symptoms, including bed wetting, chronic constipation and soiling. Half a million adults have bowel conditions that lead to the involuntary loss of faeces. We have a population that is getting older and surviving complex conditions, such as cancer, and that will increase the prevalence of bladder and bowel dysfunction. When it comes to bowel conditions, we are talking about the involuntary loss of faecal matter, which can be because of irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease or other conditions, such as bowel cancer. I have not even touched on what people suffer when they are doubly incontinent. Our NHS collects data on anything and everything. The number of patients with continence care needs to be routinely published, and it is not.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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38. “People’s mental health suffers to the point of serious illness. Our language reflects society’s attitudes: “wetting your knickers”, “peeing your pants”, or ruder variants that I will not say. Yet we are talking about a range of conditions that affect millions of our residents. Did you know, Madam Deputy Speaker, that bladder and bowel incontinence is more common than hay fever? The NHS estimates that 14 million people live with bladder problems—one in five of the population—and it is men as well as women. The NHS says that 2 million men experience involuntary loss of urine. A third of women live with these conditions right now—that’s right: a third. Yet this is another aspect of health that is woefully unsupported and pushed off the agenda. It affects 1.5 million children and young people.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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39. “It started to snowball, and I asked myself, “Why aren’t we talking about this more?” I am advised that this is the first ever general debate on this topic in the Chamber, so I congratulate the House. What are we actually talking about? We are talking about the involuntary loss of faeces and urine, which can be caused by pregnancy, neurological conditions, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord surgery, musculoskeletal conditions, disabilities, menopause, prostrate-related conditions and many more reasons. The crippling fear for patients is that it might happen at work, in public or in social settings. Patients have told me that they feel like a prisoner in their own homes, caught by a condition that means people avoid others, do not go out, cannot go to work, do not have relationships and feel a crushing sense of shame.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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40. “We can now discuss those things more openly without embarrassment, we can seek the right medical advice and treatment, and we can offer support to one another and fight for decent healthcare for every aspect of the human body. How did I get here, in this Chamber, talking about human bodily functions? This has been a journey for me. I spoke in the Westminster Hall debate on women’s health in February. As a physiotherapist, I talked about pelvic health and the importance of rehabilitation and pelvic floor exercises. My words seemed to have struck a chord. Colleagues, residents and professionals all emailed me to thank me for speaking out and to share their experiences.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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41. “I beg to move, That this House has considered the matter of incontinence. I thank the Backbench Business Committee and its Chair, the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman), who helped secure this debate. I am delighted that we are debating this vital but often ignored issue during World Continence Week. The definition of a taboo is a subject so difficult, repulsive or offensive that it cannot be mentioned in polite conversation and can be articulated only in hushed, embarrassed tones. Once, menstruation was a taboo and we were not supposed to talk about it. Once, cancer was a taboo, and in some communities it still is. Once, mental health was a taboo and people covered it up.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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42. “Fifthly, I have a recommendation from a patient I met, Leanne. Could we have a one-stop shop in which all services are under one roof, care that is closer to home, and cheaper incontinence products? They are exempt from VAT if they are purchased for personal use, or use by a registered charity, but what if they are purchased by care homes? Those are my five demands, backed by experts—five things that will ensure real progress. I look forward to the Minister’s response. Lastly, let me say this to men, women, young people and children listening to this debate: you are not alone, and there is no shame. This subject is often surrounded by silence. It is a subject that people do not want to talk about, or do not know about, and that the NHS does not do enough about. That ends now, and it ends here.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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43. “Can the Minister commit to placing this issue high on the agenda for schools, and to building a specialist multidisciplinary workforce who have the relevant skills and knowledge? Thirdly, we need enhanced research and development on bladder and bowel conditions and their treatment. That does not necessarily mean vastly increasing spending; it could mean looking at how resources could be better prioritised. We cannot diagnose, treat and rehabilitate, or look into future medical interventions, if there is limited research. Fourthly—this recommendation is from Dr Ashish Pradhan, chair of the British Society of Urogynaecology —can the Minister commit to banning misleading advertisements that send the wrong message? Products subject to no regulation are advertised, and patients are told to live with their symptoms.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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44. “I agree that products need to be readily available, and that is one of my recommendations. Secondly, beyond awareness is prevention. We need real understanding, and I want bladder and bowel health to form part of the school syllabus, enmeshed into the curriculum. That is a recommendation from surgeon Dr Robinson from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Let us give teachers the tools to teach it. I want this to form part of the training of all healthcare professionals, so that medical professions understand bladder and bowel care from their earliest time in the job. We need a specialist workforce that includes physiotherapists, nurses, surgeons and many others.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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45. “Friend the Member for Wolverhampton West (Warinder Juss) talked passionately about the high quality of care needed for patients and about the pelvic mesh scandal; my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Dr Sullivan) spoke powerfully about dealing with bladder and bowel conditions at an early stage, and about prevention; my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Chris Vince) mentioned health inequalities and shared his personal experience; and my hon. Friends the Members for Colchester (Pam Cox) and for Penrith and Solway (Markus Campbell-Savours) discussed the availability of public toilets. Lastly, I thank everybody again, and I say this once more to those men, women, children and young people who are listening to the debate: you are not alone, and there is absolutely no shame. Question put and agreed to.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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46. “I thank the Minister for her response, and I hope she takes forward my five recommendations. I also thank all the Members who have contributed to this debate; I hope they continue this conversation in their constituencies. The hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway (John Cooper) spoke about men’s health and smashing the stigma. My hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Jodie Gosling) talked about her work on the all-party parliamentary group for bladder and bowel continence care, and she shared information about paediatric care and the lack of provision. The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) raised the issue of the costs to the NHS of neglecting bladder and bowel conditions. My hon.”

    House of Commons19 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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47. “Since the global financial crisis, listing on the London Stock Exchange has fallen by 40%, posing a significant barrier to growth, as liquidity and investor activity decline. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that more British businesses are listed on the London Stock Exchange and that the UK remains a leading global financial sector?”

    House of Commons12 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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48. “As an NHS physiotherapist, I welcome the statement. The Government will soon launch their 10-year plan for our NHS, in which a focus will be a move from sickness to prevention. Will the Minister set out how the spending review will support Dudley integrated care board and other ICBs in bringing healthcare on to our high streets, so that patient care is at the heart of our communities?”

    House of Commons12 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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49. “I welcome the relocation of civil service jobs across the country. With a recent study showing that Dudley has high levels of economic inactivity, what reassurances can my right hon. Friend give me that young people in Dudley will have every opportunity to build their career in the civil service, whether through training, apprenticeships or mentorships?”

    House of Commons5 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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50. “Kirstie Bavington is a two-time European female welterweight boxing champion from my constituency, yet even with those achievements she is still working as a PE teacher while pursuing her dream of making boxing a full-time career. Will my right hon. Friend agree to a debate in Government time on increasing funding for female athletes, so that champions like Kirstie can pursue sport as a full-time career and achieve true parity in opportunity and support?”

    House of Commons5 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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