Q6

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Michelle Welsh (Sherwood Forest) (Lab):

The Donna Ockenden and Baroness Amos reviews have exposed some uncomfortable truths: that justice is not brought about by a system, a law, a protocol, a regulatory authority or NHS England, but by bereaved and harmed families having to speak up, over and over again, about the most horrific and traumatic experience of their lives just to be heard. Does the Prime Minister agree that the system is not only failing but cruel, and if we are to restore public trust then we must finally introduce the Hillsborough law in full, so that families can get the justice and accountability they need and deserve?

Q6

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Michelle Welsh (Sherwood Forest) (Lab):

The Donna Ockenden and Baroness Amos reviews have exposed some uncomfortable truths: that justice is not brought about by a system, a law, a protocol, a regulatory authority or NHS England, but by bereaved and harmed families having to speak up, over and over again, about the most horrific and traumatic experience of their lives just to be heard. Does the Prime Minister agree that the system is not only failing but cruel, and if we are to restore public trust then we must finally introduce the Hillsborough law in full, so that families can get the justice and accountability they need and deserve?

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this subject. Baroness Amos’s findings show a deeply disturbing picture of deep fragmentation and an overly complex system, with women and families not being listened to, no proper accountability, and discrimination driving inequalities in treatment and outcomes. We will deliver the change that is needed. We will look at the urgent recommendations of Baroness Amos and Donna Ockenden and deliver them. I thank my hon. Friend for leading from the front as the first maternity adviser, working with families and the NHS to deliver safer and better care for every mother and baby. I know that her son Billy will be very proud of her.

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this subject. Baroness Amos’s findings show a deeply disturbing picture of deep fragmentation and an overly complex system, with women and families not being listened to, no proper accountability, and discrimination driving inequalities in treatment and outcomes. We will deliver the change that is needed. We will look at the urgent recommendations of Baroness Amos and Donna Ockenden and deliver them. I thank my hon. Friend for leading from the front as the first maternity adviser, working with families and the NHS to deliver safer and better care for every mother and baby. I know that her son Billy will be very proud of her.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled, Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025, if he will provide an update on progress of the review and when it is expected...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled, Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025, if he will provide an update on progress of the review and when it is expected...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55254 on Public Bodies: Reviews, how many civil servants are involved in the review by grade.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55254 on Public Bodies: Reviews, how many civil servants are involved in the review by grade.

New clause 1 (Reporting: racial disparities relating to community treatment orders), discussed with new clause 3 (Addressing and reporting on racial disparities and other inequalities in the use of the Mental Health Act 1983), debated and withdrawn. New clause 2 (Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space), negatived on division (2 votes to 11). New clause 6 (Duty to promote mental health wellbeing), debated and withdrawn. New clause 7 (Funding and reporting), debated and withdrawn. New clause 8 (Mental Health Commissioner), negatived on division (2 votes to 11). New clause 9 (Veterans’ Mental Health Oversight Officer), debated and withdrawn. New clause 11 (Costed plan to ensure community provision for individuals with learning disabilities and autism who are at risk of detention) negatived on division (4 votes to 11). New clause 12 (Age-appropriate treatment for children), negatived on division (4 votes to 11). New clause 13 (Duty to review the functions of the regulatory authority), negatived on division (6 votes to 11). New clause 14 (Adequacy of accommodation: review), debated and withdrawn. New clause 15 (Review of impact of this Act on detention), discussed with new clause 18 (Report on the impact of this Act on patients with eating disorders), and new clause 23 (Impact assessment: children and young people in temporary foster care), debated and withdrawn. New clause 16 (Transfer of patients: out of area placements), debated and withdrawn. New clause 19 (Report and Guidance: Improving Outcomes for LGBT Patients), debated and withdrawn. New clause 22 (National strategy on mental health units), debated and withdrawn. New clause 24 (Application in respect of patient already on hospital grounds) negatived on division (4 votes to 11). New clause 25 (Deaths in detention: independent investigations), debated and withdrawn. New clause 26 (Use of restraint and restrictive intervention), debated and withdrawn. Clauses 55 to 59 agreed to, with clauses 57 and 59 agreed to as amended. Bill, as amended, to be reported (Bill 272). Committee rose. Written evidence to be reported to the House.

New clause 1 (Reporting: racial disparities relating to community treatment orders), discussed with new clause 3 (Addressing and reporting on racial disparities and other inequalities in the use of the Mental Health Act 1983), debated and withdrawn. New clause 2 (Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space), negatived on division (2 votes...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the review announced in his Department's press release entitled Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the review announced in his Department's press release entitled Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025, whether the review will include (a) public corporations, (b) non-ministerial departments and (c) government-owned companies.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025, whether the review will include (a) public corporations, (b) non-ministerial departments and (c) government-owned companies.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37814 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which reviews have been paused.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37814 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which reviews have been paused.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 25853 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which four public body reviews are completed; what were the conclusions of each of these; which public body reviews are in progress; and which public body reviews...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 25853 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which four public body reviews are completed; what were the conclusions of each of these; which public body reviews are in progress; and which public body reviews...

Clauses 28-55 agreed, one with amendment. Written evidence reported.

Clauses 28-55 agreed, one with amendment. Written evidence reported.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22191 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which reviews (a) are in progress and (b) have been paused; and what the status is of reviews in the 2024-25 financial year.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22191 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which reviews (a) are in progress and (b) have been paused; and what the status is of reviews in the 2024-25 financial year.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many of the reviews by Departments of public bodies in the financial year 2023/24 as part of the Public Bodies Review Programme (a) have been completed, (b) remain outstanding and (c) have been abandoned.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many of the reviews by Departments of public bodies in the financial year 2023/24 as part of the Public Bodies Review Programme (a) have been completed, (b) remain outstanding and (c) have been abandoned.

Arm’s length bodies across Government spend more than £200 billion a year, and my Committee has been looking at that issue. The Government launched the public bodies review programme as part of their latest drive to look at quangos, but there is little in the public domain. Will the Minister commit to publishing the review of individual quangos as it goes through? What will the final publication date be for the outcome of the review?

Arm’s length bodies across Government spend more than £200 billion a year, and my Committee has been looking at that issue. The Government launched the public bodies review programme as part of their latest drive to look at quangos, but there is little in the public domain. Will the Minister commit to publishing the review of individual quangos as it goes through? What will the final publication date be for the outcome of the review?

In the spring statement in March 2022, the review of public bodies was announced, as the hon. Lady knows. That will give us significant savings. There are 125 arm’s length body reviews, covering 90% of arm’s length body expenditure. Honestly, I am not familiar with the exact protocols around publication, but I am happy to look into it, and I will come back to her.

In the spring statement in March 2022, the review of public bodies was announced, as the hon. Lady knows. That will give us significant savings. There are 125 arm’s length body reviews, covering 90% of arm’s length body expenditure. Honestly, I am not familiar with the exact protocols around publication, but I am happy to look into it, and I will come back to her.

I. Public Body Review: an independent review of Wilton Park. II. HMG’s response to the Public Body Review of Wilton Park 2023. 5p.

I. Public Body Review: an independent review of Wilton Park. II. HMG’s response to the Public Body Review of Wilton Park 2023. 5p.

My Noble Friend the Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth and United Nations (Lord Ahmad) has today made the following statement:

I am announcing today a review of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), an Executive Non Departmental Public Body of the Foreign, Commonwealth and...

My Noble Friend the Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth and United Nations (Lord Ahmad) has today made the following statement:

I am announcing today a review of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), an Executive Non Departmental Public Body of the Foreign, Commonwealth and...

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to help ensure that (a) all public bodies undertake annual diversity reviews and (b) those annual reviews include an assessment of the progression of people with protected characteristics.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to help ensure that (a) all public bodies undertake annual diversity reviews and (b) those annual reviews include an assessment of the progression of people with protected characteristics.

I am pleased to announce that, today, we are publishing guidance documents that will underpin a new series of public body reviews.

The review programme and associated guidance delivers against the commitments made in the Declaration on Government Reform to increase the effectiveness of arm’s length bodies, making government...

I am pleased to announce that, today, we are publishing guidance documents that will underpin a new series of public body reviews.

The review programme and associated guidance delivers against the commitments made in the Declaration on Government Reform to increase the effectiveness of arm’s length bodies, making government...