Lucy Allan
MP for Telford
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
Please will the Deputy Prime Minister log on to Hope House Children's Hospice's Big Night In this Sunday? If he wins a pair of tickets to the Telford polar express, I shall be delighted to go with him.
Context
Hope House Children's Hospice in Telford and Shropshire is holding an online fundraiser called the Big Night In, aiming to raise half a million pounds. Among prizes are premium tickets to the Telford steam railway polar express.
Dominic Raab
I thank my hon. Friend, and congratulate her and Hope House Children's Hospice on the amazing work they do. I have been working very closely with Shooting Star Children's Hospices, a similar organisation in my constituency.
Assessment
Did not directly address whether he will participate in the fundraiser.
I Thank My Hon. Friend, And Congratulate Her And Hope House Children'S Hospice On The Amazing Work They Do.
Session: PMQs
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I thank the Prime Minister for his earlier remarks concerning the Donna Ockenden report into avoidable maternity deaths and injuries at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. The report makes for devastating reading, the more so because women's voices were ignored. My constituent Hayley Matthews begged staff for a C-section throughout her 36-hour labour, but was forced into a natural birth. Her son Jack arrived blue and floppy and, within hours of his birth, he tragically died. Will the Prime Minister join me in offering heartfelt sympathies to all the families affected and grateful thanks to the 1,862 women who shared their experiences with the Ockenden review to ensure that maternity care is safer, kinder and more compassionate for the women who come after them?
Context
The Donna Ockenden report details avoidable maternity deaths and injuries at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. Hayley Matthews, a constituent, lost her son Jack after begging for a C-section during her 36-hour labour.
Boris Johnson
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I think everybody will thank the women concerned for taking up the issue in the way that they have and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their families for what they have suffered. It is very important that people get the answers that they deserve and that we have the right approach to the issue in the future.
Session: PMQs
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Will my right hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to Noel Conway and does my right hon. Friend agree that it is now time for Parliament to properly consider the law on assisted dying?
Context
Noel Conway, an assisted dying campaigner, has died after taking the decision to have his breathing support removed.
Boris Johnson
I thank my hon. Friend, and I know that the whole House will be in sympathy with Noel Conway's family and friends. There are very deeply and sincerely held views on both sides of this matter, and a change in the law would obviously be one for Parliament to consider.
Assessment
The Prime Minister did not explicitly agree or disagree about the timing of reconsidering the law on assisted dying but acknowledged it as a matter for Parliament's consideration.
Session: PMQs
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My constituent Tracy Felstead is at the Court of Appeal today... Does the Prime Minister agree that, in order for justice to be truly done, those responsible for this failure and its cover-up must be held to account? Does he agree that heads should roll?
Context
My constituent Tracy Felstead is at the Court of Appeal today, along with 41 other sub-postmasters. They are seeking to clear their names in a miscarriage of justice due to flawed IT system.
Boris Johnson
I certainly understand my hon. Friend's strong feelings on this issue, and her campaign is shared by many Members across the House. That is why we launched the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry, which has made quite fast progress. Yes, we do want to learn the lessons. Yes, we do want to make sure that the right people are held to account for what happened and that the Post Office never repeats a mistake like this.
Session: PMQs
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Unemployment in the under-24 age group has already doubled in Telford compared with this time last year, and it is clear that the aftermath of the pandemic will hit our young people hardest, with disruption to education and training, as well as job losses. I know that my right hon. Friend is passionate about opportunities for young people, particularly in areas such as Telford, which has suffered disproportionately in previous recessions. Will he ensure that the recovery strategy focuses on young people and equipping them with the skills they need to survive in a post-pandemic economy and, indeed, thrive in the longer term?
Context
Unemployment among young people in Telford has doubled compared to last year, with significant disruption to education and training.
Boris Johnson
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to speak up for the young people of Telford and their immense potential, and that is why we will be supporting her and them with a new national skills fund worth £2.5 billion, so that young people can be at the very forefront of our effort to come out of this epidemic.
Session: PMQs
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In today's Shropshire Star, my local paper, there is an eight-page spread on what is happening to healthcare in Shropshire, which is described as a war zone. Will the Secretary of State meet me and other Shropshire MPs to discuss the challenges we face?
Context
Healthcare services are described as being in a 'war zone', with Shropshire facing significant challenges.
Steve Barclay
I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the issues in Shropshire. I draw her attention to the fact that we have more doctors, more nurses and more funding going into the NHS, and more people are being treated.
Session: Topical Questions
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Orthopaedic surgery at the Princess Royal Hospital has still not restarted since the pandemic. That is causing huge suffering for those who have been waiting for surgery, in some cases for several years. A hip replacement is transformative to quality of life and reduces other care needs, but orthopaedic surgeons continue to be paid despite not operating, and no alternative is being offered to patients—they are not even being given an expected operation date. Will implementing the Messenger review require NHS leadership to be more accountable to the public so that decisions such as refusing to restart much-needed surgery can be challenged?
Context
The MP is concerned about the lack of restart in orthopaedic surgeries since the pandemic, which has caused significant suffering for patients waiting for necessary operations.
Sajid Javid
I thank my hon. Friend for her tireless campaigning on the issue, which she brought up recently in the Health and Social Care Committee. I am pleased to tell her that elective orthopaedic surgery at the Princess Royal Hospital will resume from 20 June. My hon. Friend is right about the importance of the Messenger review. There were many examples of excellent leadership in it, but sadly there were also examples of poor leadership, including bullying and blame cultures. That is why it is essential that we have this huge reform.
Session: Health and Social Care Leadership and Management
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What steps are you taking to raise the quality of leadership and management across the health and social care sectors?
Context
The MP is concerned about the need for high-quality leadership across health and social care sectors, citing instances where poor leadership has led to unacceptable standards.
Sajid Javid
In health and care, strong leadership can make the difference between life and death. I have been clear that we can accept only the highest possible standards and that in some cases poor leadership has been tolerated for too long. That is why I have accepted in full the recommendations of General Sir Gordon Messenger's independent review and will set out a delivery plan to begin what I think will be the biggest shake-up in health and social care leadership in a generation.
Session: Health and Social Care Leadership and Management
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My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has been incredibly agile in responding to exceptional crises. As he tackles the impact of Putin's war on our economy, will the Minister take every measure to accelerate growth, including reducing taxes on fuel and energy?
Context
The MP asks for measures to accelerate economic growth, including reducing taxes on fuel and energy.
Simon Clarke
As has been discussed earlier in this session, as my hon. Friend rightly highlights, the Government recognise that households do need support with the rising cost of energy. Indeed, the Chancellor has already provided support worth some £9.1 billion for the financial year 2022-23. On her wider point about boosting growth, the Chancellor outlined in his Mais lecture the importance of the Government investing in capital, people and ideas, so that we can strengthen the economy and make sure that the UK is best placed to succeed in what is a challenging set of circumstances.
Session: Managing the Public Finances
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Will the Minister commit to supporting victims of sexual abuse by rolling out section 28 in the victim's Bill?
Context
Section 28 is set out in the victim's Bill, dealing with pre-recorded evidence from rape victims.
Dominic Raab
I endorse my hon. Friend's point about section 28, which deals with pre-recorded evidence from rape victims and we will articulate clearly a plan to move from limited trials to a national roll-out in the first half of this year.
Session: Topical Questions
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Delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment have had tragic consequences for some of my constituents. What is my right hon. Friend doing to improve cancer survival rates?
Context
Delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment due to the pandemic have had tragic consequences.
Sajid Javid
My hon. Friend raises an issue that is very close to my heart, and the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) rightly raised it a moment ago, too. The pandemic has exposed huge health disparities in this country.
Session: Topical Questions
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Thanks the Front Bench team for the Budget that benefited constituents. Questions who is responsible for ensuring value for money in significant capital spend for NHS projects, like the Shropshire plan where costs have escalated from £312 million to £560 million. Requests no more cash allocated until a sum is ringfenced for A&E care in Telford.
Context
Concern about the escalating costs of a Shropshire plan to build a state-of-the-art critical care unit and the need for value for money in NHS projects.
Simon Clarke
Agrees on importance of delivering value for money, a shared responsibility across government. Urges discussion with DHSC about right hospital configuration for Shropshire but does not address accountability or specific fund allocation requests.
Session: NHS Trusts Capital Spending
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What steps his Department is taking with the Department of Health and Social Care to help ensure scrutiny of NHS trusts' capital spending. The questioner seeks details on measures taken to prevent overspending and ensure accountability in capital projects.
Context
Concern about the scrutiny of NHS trusts' capital spending and ensuring value for money.
Simon Clarke
The government has committed £12 billion of capital funding for investment in and maintenance of the NHS estate, with further funds allocated for diagnostics, technology, hospital upgrades, and new hospitals. The process for selecting eight additional new hospitals is being led by DHSC based on criteria including clinical need.
Session: NHS Trusts Capital Spending
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Telford's young people have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Telford College is securing 1,000 quality apprenticeships this year, helping young people to build their future. Will the Chancellor congratulate Telford College on its work and commit to putting skills and opportunities for young people front and centre in his economic recovery plan?
Context
The MP highlights the impact of the pandemic on young people in Telford, noting that Telford College has secured 1,000 quality apprenticeships this year.
Rishi Sunak
I am delighted to hear that news from my hon. Friend, and I congratulate Telford College on creating new apprenticeships and working with local employers to provide opportunities. She is right: young people have borne the brunt of economic losses due to this crisis. That is why we are focused on providing them with support through initiatives like the kickstart scheme, tripling traineeship numbers, and implementing the lifetime skills guarantee.
Session: Apprentices
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I thank my right hon. Friend the Education Secretary for bringing forward the independent review of children's social care. I am hugely grateful that this important manifesto commitment did not find itself on the back burner given all the other challenges we face. Will my right hon. Friend tell the House what he expects the review to achieve for those children in care or on the fringes of care?
Context
The independent review of children's social care is an important commitment that the questioner appreciates did not get pushed aside despite other challenges. The questioner seeks to understand what the review aims to achieve.
Gavin Williamson
This is something everyone in this House feels incredibly passionately about. I know through seeing at first hand, coming from a family with parents who fostered for many years, how important it is to get high-quality children's social care right in this country. I want a real revolution to come out of this report, and I am incredibly pleased that Josh MacAlister has taken on this role to deliver the changes that I think Members on both sides of the House want. I have said quite clearly that I do not want him to hold back in tackling difficult issues. I want to see change, improvement and children's lives transformed. By working on a cross-party basis, I believe that that is what we can deliver.
Session: Topical Questions
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As we enter another lockdown with severe restrictions on prisoners, will the Minister consider the serious harms that minimising covid restrictions risk causing to prisoners, prison officers, and their families?
Context
Entering another lockdown with strict measures for prisoners, there is concern about the potential harm to mental health and family relations due to reduced contact.
Lucy Frazer (Minister of State for Prisons)
My hon. Friend makes a very important point; we are aware of the impacts restrictive conditions can have on those in custody and care. Since restrictions were lifted, prison staff have worked hard to reopen facilities; visits have been reintroduced in every prison since the last lockdown, with 119 prisons at stage 3 of the framework for key activities like work, education, and offender management.
Session: Topical Questions
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The Minister is concerned about a 21% increase in children entering the care system since 2010. She mentions a multi-tiered approach that aims to keep families together and improve supply of various types of care, including fostering. The Minister also highlights the importance of permanence.
Context
Concern about increasing number of children in care since 2010.
Michelle Donelan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families)
Absolutely. The system needs to be child-focused. In my letter to local authorities last week, I highlighted other forms of permanence including kinship care and special guardianships in particular. However, 41% of children with a placement order have not been placed in an adoption setting within 18 months, which is unacceptable.
Session: Children Entering the Care System
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Funeral Plan Industry — [Judith Cummins in the Chair]
26 May 2022
Responding: John Glen
Main Concerns
["Lucy Allan highlighted that 1.6 million people hold funeral plans and 218,000 new plans were taken out last year with over £4 billion in funds under management held in plans. She pointed out the industry's use of high-pressure sales techniques, lack of transparency about investments, and concerns raised by Safe Hands Funeral Plans entering administration, leaving plan holders with a return of between 10p and 20p in the pound after paying their 25% commission."]
Specific Asks
['Allan urged the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to maintain its regulatory proposals without watering them down. She stressed that funeral plans are savings and investment products targeted at vulnerable people, who should have the same level of protection as anyone else buying a financial product. Allan called for accountability from industry players and a duty to protect vulnerable customers.']
Sport: Disabled Officials, Referees and Umpires
25 May 2021
Responding: Nigel Huddleston
Main Concerns
['I am concerned about the lack of inclusivity for disabled officials in sport. Despite progress in Paralympic sports and disability cricket, there are significant barriers preventing disabled individuals from becoming referees or umpires. A constituent, John McIntear, who is a qualified cricket umpire and wheelchair user, has faced challenges and only one other disabled person officiates using a wheelchair.']
Specific Asks
["I ask the Minister to support John McIntear's campaign, encouraging sports organisations to engage with it and consider how they can train people with disabilities to become referees and officials. Additionally, I urge the Minister to promote opportunities for mobility-impaired individuals at high-profile events such as the Commonwealth Games."]
Post Office and Horizon Software
05 March 2020
Responding: Paul Scully
Main Concerns
["The MP highlighted the need for a mechanism to address the miscarriage of justice faced by postmasters affected by flaws in the Post Office's Horizon IT system. She noted that these individuals were wrongly accused and imprisoned, causing significant stigma and social isolation within their communities. The MP also criticized the Post Office's war-like attrition tactics during the litigation process, including repeated appeals against judgments to wear down claimants."]
Specific Asks
['The MP urged the Minister to work with the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to ensure that wrongful convictions are quashed and criminal records expunged. She requested a mechanism for compensation and support for those affected by this injustice, emphasizing the need for justice to be served without further delays.']
Backbench Business
02 March 2023
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead this debate on the loophole that allows registered sex offenders to change their names without notifying the police, leading many to go missing and reoffe...
Post Office: GLO Compensation Scheme
07 December 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Telford Child Sexual Exploitation: Inquiry
05 September 2022
Adjournment Debate
Led by this MP
The MP raised the issue of child sexual exploitation in Telford, reporting on the independent inquiry led by Mr Tom Crowther QC. She emphasised the importance of organisations accepting criticism and ...
Ambulance Services and National Heatwave Emergency
13 July 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
HM Passport Office Backlog
14 June 2022
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The debate opens by highlighting the systemic failures leading to the current crisis at Her Majesty's Passport Office, blaming underinvestment and poor planning over a decade. It emphasises the broade...
Business Question
12 May 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Integration White Paper
09 February 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Elective Treatment
08 February 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Economic Update
03 February 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Postmasters with Overturned Convictions: Settlement Funds
15 December 2021
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
5
PMQs Asked
12
Ministerial Questions Asked
56
House of Commons Debates Involved
3
Westminster Hall Debates Led
0
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
0
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 1370 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
+36% above average
This MP:
5
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
-12% below average
This MP:
12
Average:
13.7
Westminster Hall Debates Led
+19% above average
This MP:
3
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+1057% above average
This MP:
56
Average:
4.8
Statements / Bills Proposed
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
9.5
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.4
Important Context
- - Ministers answer questions rather than asking them, so have different activity patterns
- - Activity quantity doesn't measure quality or effectiveness of representation
- - Some MPs focus more on constituency work than parliamentary questions
- - Newly elected MPs will have less parliamentary history
About This Page
This page tracks Lucy Allan's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.