Rachel Hopkins: I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling me to make my maiden speech during this part of the debate on the Queen’s Speech, because like many Members on both sides of the House, local government is close to my heart, having served as a local councillor in Luton for over eight years. Like my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts), I too will champion local...
Rachel Hopkins: Luton station in my constituency is falling apart, the roof has leaked for years and it is not fit for purpose. Many Members have raised their unhappiness with poor rail services, but I would like to ask the Leader of the House for a debate on the level of investment in railway stations in large towns such as Luton.
Rachel Hopkins: I congratulate the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine) on securing this important debate. I am a humanist and I believe people should have complete autonomy over their own lives. As the Member of Parliament for Luton, South I am well aware of the case of fellow Lutonian Diane Pretty, whose hardship was publicised in 2002. She was paralysed from motor neurone disease and wanted...
Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to improve Luton train station.
Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will increase funding for schools in Luton schools in 2020.
Rachel Hopkins: I am pleased that we are having this Opposition day debate on a topic that directly impacts on all our constituents’ day-to-day lives. The aim of any Government should be to ensure that people’s day-to-day lives are improved and to give people a greater stake in society. To achieve that, we must empower the collective voice of our communities—our local councils. Instead of listening to...
Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support Luton Borough Council to reduce child poverty in Luton South constituency.
Rachel Hopkins: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. I congratulate the right hon. Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) on securing such an important debate. As in his constituency, permitted development rights have allowed the creation of poor quality homes in my constituency of Luton South in Bedfordshire—it is also, technically, in the east. We have a severe housing crisis....
Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of children living in temporary accommodation in Luton.
Rachel Hopkins: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Davies. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Lloyd Russell-Moyle) on securing this important debate. For the past five years, I have been a governor at Luton Sixth Form College, which is the oldest in the country and, with more than 3,100 students, one of the largest. It is the college that I am proud to have...
Rachel Hopkins: I am pleased to speak in this debate as a serving councillor still on Luton council, because we know how much social care needs are impacting on local councils. We have heard much from many colleagues, but I want to bring a bit of lived experience to the debate. Luton council set its budget last week, but we have been struggling, like many councils up and down the country. Our revenue support...
Rachel Hopkins: I took the Leader of the House’s previous advice and wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport on 11 February, to request a meeting on the decrepit state of Luton’s train station. I still have not received a response and the train station is in urgent need of vital investment. Will the Leader of the House advise me on how I can prompt a response from the Transport Secretary?
Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to increase council housing stock in Luton.
Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that offices converted into flats through permitted development rights meet planning permission regulations.
Rachel Hopkins: The week before Christmas, Luton food bank issued 339 food parcels, of which 124 were specifically for children. The level of child poverty in Luton has risen to a shameful 46%. While Luton’s unemployment rate may be going down, more people are in low-paid, insecure jobs. Does the Prime Minister agree that it is wholly unacceptable that families are in work but children are growing up in...
Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the increase in multiple occupancy housing on the family housing stock in Luton.
Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding has been allocated to improve Luton railway station; and how that funding compares to investment in railway stations in the (a) East of England and (b) UK.
Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Luton South dated 11 February 2020 on investment in Luton Railway Station.
Rachel Hopkins: As the sister of an older brother, I assure my hon. Friend that hand-me-downs happened and I can wear a navy blue jumper as well as any boy.
Rachel Hopkins: I congratulate my hon. Friend on introducing such an important and considered Bill and I am pleased to co-sponsor it. As a governor of Luton Sixth Form College, I know how crucial the extension of statutory safeguarding arrangements is to ensure that all young people in further education get the best in life. Does she agree that, given the increasing level of mental health issues among our...