Regions Demand Fair Funding as Ministers Defend Reforms

High-Level Summary

Westminster Hall debates covered East Midlands economic growth, the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS), immigration reforms, the effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), and the condition of rural roads. East Midlands MPs pressed for fairer, long‑term investment and devolution; the Minister cited record transport funding and partnership with local leaders. On CARS, Members restated the strategic case, while the Government confirmed it is currently unfunded and invited further work ahead of the next spending review. Immigration reforms drew sharp scrutiny; the Minister defended measures as restoring order and said consultation feedback, including on transitional protections, would be carefully considered. Debates on CMS and rural roads focused on safeguarding, enforcement and multi‑year highways funding, with ministers setting out current programmes and next steps; motions were agreed where time allowed, with others lapsing under Standing Orders.

Detailed Summary

Productivity and Economic Growth: East Midlands

James Naish argued the East Midlands’ potential is constrained by historic under‑investment and weaker performance on key metrics, noting “our productivity is significantly below the UK average, at just 84.8% in 2023” and that transport spend per head has fallen to “just 54% of the UK average”. He set out five APPG recommendations: rebalancing public investment (especially transport), piloting local employment hubs with devolved skills support, expanding women’s health hubs, prioritising net zero (including Midland Main Line electrification), and reforming flood‑resilience funding.

Contributors highlighted funding pressures and infrastructure gaps (Edward Argar on fairer local funding and cancelled schemes); Derby’s industrial strengths and skills needs (Catherine Atkinson); manufacturing, skills and procurement asks (Shockat Adam); devolution gaps and the Ivanhoe Line (Amanda Hack); and strategic links spanning Lincolnshire and the Humber (Martin Vickers). Baggy Shanker cited major employers (Alstom, Rolls‑Royce) and GBR’s headquarters. James Wild, speaking for the Opposition, said productivity had lagged the UK average and pointed to policies to boost R&D and investment, noting that 2023 output was “14.7% below the recent UK average”.

Replying, the Minister, Miatta Fahnbulleh, made growth and devolution central, citing “a record £2 billion of support for transport in the east midlands”, collaboration with Mayor Claire Ward, consultation on a visitor levy, multi‑year funding, and an SME strategy. She acknowledged under‑investment and said Government would partner locally to unlock potential. The House resolved: “Question put and agreed to… Resolved”.

Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS)

Natasha Irons restated the case for CARS to relieve the East Croydon/Selhurst bottleneck across the Brighton Main Line and Thameslink corridor, linking it to both reliability and accessibility—“It is about getting a lift at Norwood Junction station”. She said “Around 67% of trains passing through East Croydon are late or cancelled” and argued the scheme could unlock about £5.1 billion in value.

The Minister (Simon Lightwood) cited major recent investments (Thameslink, London Bridge/Blackfriars, Gatwick upgrades that “cut… journey times… by up to five minutes”). He said CARS was estimated at over £2.9 billion across more than 10 years and that “the previous Government took the decision to cancel the scheme at the 2021 spending review”; “No further development work has taken place” since. Following the 2025 review, “CARS was not allocated funding”, but stakeholders were invited to develop the case for the 2027 spending review. The motion was agreed to.

Immigration Reforms

Pete Wishart criticised recent reforms, saying refugee status had been made temporary, “reduced from five years to 30 months”, and pointing to visa “emergency brake” measures and changes to support—“Payments will stop for anyone working illegally, anyone convicted of a crime or anyone with independent financial means”. He objected to proposals on removals “particularly where children are involved” and argued the package risks retraumatising people and undermining integration.

Members raised workforce implications (health and care), dispersal and safe routes, and transitional protections (including for European Community Association Agreement routes). Speaking for the official Opposition, David Simmonds backed robust border control alongside compassion and asked Ministers to consider an asylum visa and avoid cost shunts to councils. Replying for the Government, Alex Norris said “the system at the moment is disorderly and uncontrolled” and explained the 30‑month grant sits alongside a “protected work and study route” to encourage contribution and reduce repeat renewals. He defended visa brakes, noting applications from four countries had risen “to more than 470% of their 2021 level” and that, for Afghanistan, “93% of those students… claimed asylum”. He confirmed retention of “existing safeguards around domestic violence and abuse” and said the consultation on earned settlement had attracted about 200,000 responses and would be carefully considered, including transitional protections. The motion lapsed under Standing Orders.

Effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS)

Kirith Entwistle argued the CMS is too often used to continue post‑separation abuse. She cited Gingerbread research that “77% of primary carers using the CMS reported experiencing domestic abuse” and “45%… said that the CMS’s involvement had actually led to an increase in abusive behaviour”. She called for child‑centred decisions, meaningful safeguards after abuse disclosure, clearer evidential standards on shared care, easier access to Collect & Pay, and named caseworkers.

The Minister, Andrew Western, said the CMS “supports more than 1.1 million children” and that “£2.9 billion is transferred each year,” with “74% of paying parents under collect and pay” compliant. He acknowledged scope to improve safeguarding and evidence handling, pointing to staff training, non‑traceable payments, and plans “to remove direct pay” to limit coercion. He added that calculation policy is under review, shared‑care processes are being examined, and complex cases can be referred to the financial investigation unit. The motion lapsed for time.

Condition of Roads in Rural Areas

Stuart Anderson highlighted the scale and safety implications of deteriorating rural roads, reporting “more than 2,100 road defects reported to Shropshire council in January alone” and national costs—“£645 million was spent on repairing vehicles damaged by potholes” last year. He called for long‑term, certain funding, reinstating road‑safety funds, recognising remoteness in funding formulas, and prioritising preventive maintenance.

Members raised co‑ordination of roadworks, durability and quality of repairs, cross‑boundary routes, drainage and litter, and accountability for intra‑county allocations. Minister Lilian Greenwood said Shropshire’s local roads funding rose to “£33.7 million” in 2025‑26, that councils now benefit from multi‑year certainty and a “record £7.3 billion funding package” over four years, and that transparency requirements and an updated highways code of practice will support improvement. She also referenced climate‑resilience workshops and Live Labs 2 innovation pilots. The motion was agreed to and resolved.