The Government website, TheyWorkForYou, indicates that Parliament will be closed at the end of Tuesday opening again in September. On Thursday 18th July two MPs made contributions. Kieran Mullan the Conservative member for Bexhill and Battle previously been the MP for Crewe and Nantwich. He spoke five times on that day with the second item ‘Business of the House’. Lucy Powell the ‘Lord President’ of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons responded.

Kieran said

“In one of her first acts, our new Deputy Prime Minister cut “Levelling Up” from her department’s title. The Leader of the House will know that there are dozens of town boards up and down the country that are populated by community leaders, business leaders and charity leaders. Whether it was intended or otherwise, the change has genuinely caused anxiety among many of them about whether their funding might also be cut in future. Can we have an urgent statement in the House so that the new Deputy Prime Minister can reassure them that the levelling-up funding they are due to receive will still be delivered?”

Lucy spoke

“I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. As a former MP for a northern constituency—I think he has travelled some way south since then—he will know that while the previous Government had strong rhetoric on levelling up, the reality was very different. There were small pots of money that were not transforming communities, and one of the biggest issues at the election was that large parts of the country, especially in the midlands and the north, felt that the previous Government had failed on levelling up. This Government will get growth in every part of the country, and we are committed to doing that.”

Helena Dollimore for Hasting and Rye contributed

“May I congratulate you on your re-election, Mr Speaker, and welcome the new Leader of the House to the Dispatch Box?  People have been left without water for over five days on not just one but two occasions. Residents and businesses have yet to be properly compensated. The town centre of Hastings has been flooded twice, and we have seen record levels of sewage dumped in our sea and even appearing in people’s homes. Will the Leader of the House look into when I can raise the matter in upcoming debates in the House?”

Lucy responded

“What an excellently put question from the new Member for Hastings and Rye. I am disturbed to learn of the failures of Southern Water in dealing with these issues. As my hon. Friend will know, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has got straight to work, bringing in the water bosses and taking a series of steps to clean up our rivers and seas and hold water companies to account. We will soon be introducing the water special measures Bill; I hope my hon. Friend will take a keen interest in that legislation and will contribute fully as a new Member.”

On Friday Alison Griffiths, the Conservative MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, spoke her maiden speech about Planning and Green Spaces, she wanted to ‘introduce my wonderful constituency Bognor Regis’ which has historic links to the poet William Blake. She referenced Blake’s “England’s green and pleasant land” was surely inspired by his life there. Alison reflected

“On the other side of the River Arun, Littlehampton is renowned for its rich nautical heritage. The harbour is central to the town’s identity, and the presence of the RNLI lifeboat station underscores the importance of maritime safety. Rustington adds further to our rich tapestry. Now home to Blind Veterans UK, Rustington is a model of community cohesion and local enterprise. Its thriving high street, supported by local businesses, is a testament to what can be achieved when we invest in our towns and villages.”

She reflected

“Predecessor, Nick Gibb, served Bognor Regis and Littlehampton for 27 years with great distinction. His dedication to public service and to our constituents has set a particularly high standard, as many have told me, and in this place and in government, his reforms to education have improved the lives of an entire generation, providing our children with the opportunities they need to succeed”

She bought challenge to the Governments about mandatory housing targets. Alison described how

“In Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, the floodplains and green spaces are the very foundations of our local economic ecosystem. Our constituency has already taken more than its fair share of development and has felt the adverse impacts as a consequence. Today I stand before the House to discuss an issue of utmost importance to my constituents: opposition to inappropriate development, and the preservation of our green spaces. These areas are not just stretches of land; they are the lungs of our communities. They play a crucial role in combating climate change by acting as carbon sinks and promoting biodiversity, by contributing to our national food security, and by providing essential green spaces for recreation, wildlife habitats and natural flood defences. One of my goals is to secure the right community infrastructure to support the growing population in the homes that have already been built. It is not enough to build new homes. We must also invest in the necessary infrastructure. I advocate for a more localised approach to planning, where decisions are made with meaningful input from local residents and authorities”