MPs Press Ministers on Care, Connectivity and EU Cooperation

High-Level Summary

Westminster Hall held five debates covering international humanitarian support, children’s social care, planning and transport, access to banking, and the UK–EU relationship. Members pressed Ministers on urgent support for Gaza’s collapsing health system and the looming deregistration of aid agencies; the Minister outlined UK health aid and diplomatic efforts. A foster care debate focused on recruitment and retention, with a plan announced to create 10,000 additional places and reform processes. MPs highlighted transport strains from development and called for infrastructure-first planning; the Government pointed to planning reforms, data tools and bus funding. Further debates examined banking hubs to protect cash access in rural and post‑industrial areas and reflected on the 2016 EU referendum’s impacts, with Ministers setting out steps to rebuild cooperation with the EU while remaining outside the single market and customs union.

Detailed Summary

Government support for the healthcare system in Gaza

Simon Opher opened by warning of escalating constraints on healthcare and aid delivery, noting that “in about a week’s time, many aid agencies that provide medical care will be barred from operating there”, and describing “healthocide” alongside evidence that “not a single hospital is fully functional in the Gaza strip”. He highlighted a pending deregistration deadline—“37 international non-governmental organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières, face deregistration on 1 March”—urged the reopening of medical transfers to East Jerusalem—“The World Health Organisation holds a list of approximately 18,000 urgent cases”—and proposed rapid deployment of “mobile operating theatres… within 48 hours”. Backbenchers raised mental health support, children’s evacuations and aid access; Sarah Champion argued Israel’s ban on internal medical transfers was costing lives, stating “more than 18,500 patients approved by the World Health Organisation are waiting for evacuation”. The shadow Minister, Andrew Snowden, referenced aid flows—“about 2 million tonnes of aid have entered Gaza”—and new NGO rules that “affect some 15% of the aid agencies operating within Gaza”.

Minister Hamish Falconer condemned recent Israeli settlement decisions and set out UK actions: “we recognise a Palestinian state”; “we have provided £40 million of aid for health”; and on NGO deregistration, “there is a deadline of 1 March” and the Government “oppose it now”. On possible next steps if restrictions tighten, he said he was “refusing to be drawn on concrete steps” in advance, and cited work through the Civil‑Military Co‑ordination Centre. Outcome: Motion agreed and resolved—“That this House has considered Government support for the healthcare system in Gaza”.

Foster care: recruitment and retention

Rebecca Smith warned of a shrinking foster pipeline: “Every year England loses more foster carers than it gains”, and highlighted the role of independent fostering agencies (IFAs), which are “responsible for 44% of mainstream fostering households”. She cited a fees “postcode lottery”, noting that “some foster carers receive £38,000 a year more than others”, and urged stronger partnerships with IFAs, alongside examples from Plymouth’s in‑house service.

Minister for Children and Families Josh MacAlister set out a plan to “create 10,000 additional foster care places by the end of this Parliament”, addressed delays and demographics—“around one third of current carers are over 60”—and proposed end‑to‑end regional hubs and a second wave of Regional Care Co‑operatives, cautioning that “about 90% of all residential care is run on a for‑profit basis”. He announced scaling Mockingbird, £25 million for home adaptations (Room Makers), and rule changes so routine decisions are made by carers: “permissions to get haircuts and overnight stays… should be made by foster carers by default”. Outcome: Question put and agreed to; consultations and a call for evidence are underway.

Impact of planning developments on local transport

Victoria Collins argued that top‑down housing targets and “grey‑belt” policies were straining historic towns without matching infrastructure: in her area, targets “have almost doubled”; the “grey‑belt back door” was used “to get permission to build on green‑belt land”; and on rail, “rammed trains are cancelled almost daily” with decimated buses. She cited a 56.5% fall in Hertfordshire bus mileage between 2017 and 2023 and performance figures where “only seven out of 122 daily trains from Harpenden to London ran 100% on time”. Other Members highlighted cumulative impacts, Section 106 delivery—“more than £6 billion of unspent section 106 money”—and rural connectivity challenges.

Responding for the Government, Simon Lightwood pointed to planning reforms to ensure development is “supported by robust guidance”, the DLUHC‑DfT connectivity tool to “identify infrastructure gaps”, Great British Railways’ place‑making role, and Platform4’s ambition to deliver “40,000 homes” on railway land. He confirmed National Highways’ consultee role and bus support—Hertfordshire to receive “£34.1 million” under the Local Authority Bus Grant plus prior funding. Outcome: Resolved—“That this House has considered the impact of planning developments on local transport”.

Banking hubs in rural and post‑industrial communities

Ann Davies highlighted ongoing reliance on cash and branch services: in 2025, “£76 billion was withdrawn from Link ATMs, in 1.27 billion transactions”, while Wales saw branches fall from 695 (2012) to 435 (2022). She argued rural criteria can miss real accessibility—citing Ammanford, where Link judged no need because “Ammanford did not meet the population threshold of 10,000 people living near the high street”—and urged more hubs for dispersed populations.

Minister Lucy Rigby acknowledged digital shifts—“over nine in 10 adults banked online or used a mobile app in 2024”—but stressed the need to preserve access, reiterating the manifesto aim to “get to at least 350 banking hubs”. She reported that “more than 270 hubs have already been announced, and more than 210 are now open” with 17 announced in Wales, and said the Government is exploring enhanced hub services, including “printing facilities” and “Saturday opening hours”. Outcome: As a 30‑minute debate, the motion lapsed under Standing Orders.

EU membership referendum: impact on the UK

Stephen Gethins opened by characterising the decade since the 2016 vote as “a lost decade for the economy… which has left us poorer”. He raised concerns over migration rules—“The UK left the Dublin regulation”—and advocated a closer EU relationship. Views differed: contributors cited economic costs, social impacts and sectoral effects, while others defended Brexit’s sovereignty and outcomes.

Responding for the Government, Chris Ward set out the approach to rebuild cooperation while remaining outside the single market and customs union: a political “mandate” to make Brexit work; the first UK–EU summit establishing “a new framework for UK EU relations”; work towards an SPS agreement and access to the EU’s internal electricity market; and rejoining “the Erasmus+ scheme”, with legislation planned and implementation aimed for the first half of 2027. He confirmed the policy remains “outside the single market and the customs union and without freedom of movement”. Outcome: Debate concluded; motion lapsed and the sitting adjourned.