That this House supports Family Business Week 2026, taking place from 23 to 27 November, a week-long celebration led by Family Business UK of family businesses across the UK; welcomes this year’s theme of supporting local growth, recognising the contribution of family businesses to creating jobs, supporting local supply chains and investing in their communities; recognises that family-owned businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, employing 15.8 million people and contributing £985 billion in Gross Value Added; celebrates their long-term commitment to the towns, cities and regions in which they operate; and calls on the Government to place family businesses at the heart of its mission to grow the UK economy and deliver growth in every part of the country.
That this House notes the Veterans and Armed Forces Summit held in Wiltshire on 29 October 2026, bringing together representatives from the Armed Forces community, veterans' organisations, local authorities, healthcare providers, employers and charities to identify persistent gaps in support for veterans, serving personnel and military families; recognises concerns raised regarding access to mental health and addiction services, the transition from military to civilian life, housing insecurity, childcare provision, domestic abuse prevention and difficulties navigating fragmented support systems; welcomes proposals developed at the summit for a comprehensive local Armed Forces support directory, stronger cooperation between military welfare teams and civilian services, improved pathways into independent housing for veterans leaving supported accommodation, and closer collaboration with the Government's VALOUR programme; further welcomes commitments to raise veterans' mental health waiting times, NHS transport provision, housing barriers and criminal justice interventions with relevant authorities; further recognises the vital contribution made by charities, community organisations and public services supporting the Armed Forces community across Wiltshire; believes that too many veterans and military families continue to face barriers caused by fragmented services and poor coordination between agencies; and calls on the Government to bring forward a comprehensive cross-departmental strategy for veterans and military families, covering health, housing, employment and family support, to strengthen coordination between the Ministry of Defence, NHS, local authorities and the voluntary sector, to improve support for service leavers, and to ensure that no veteran or military family falls through gaps in provision.
That this House congratulates the students of Abbeyfield School in Chippenham on winning the 2026 UK Youth Rocketry Challenge and subsequently achieving victory in the international final at the Farnborough International Airshow on 24 July 2026; celebrates their success in representing the United Kingdom alongside teams from the United States, Japan, Ukraine and France; commends the scientific knowledge, engineering skill, creativity and teamwork demonstrated in designing, building and launching a model rocket and returning its fragile payload safely to the ground; pays tribute to the teachers, school staff and families who supported the team; recognises the contribution of ADS and the competition’s organisers and supporters in providing practical opportunities for young people to develop their skills; highlights the importance of access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and enrichment activities; and wishes the students every success in their future studies and careers.
That this House congratulates the Co-op Local Community Fund on its 10th anniversary; recognises the important contribution that the Fund has made to community organisations and local causes over the past decade; commends the thousands of Co-op members who have chosen to support local causes through their membership; celebrates the volunteers, supporters, donors and community champions whose time and commitment enable those organisations to make a difference in their communities; welcomes the event being held at the Chippenham Community Hub on 28 October 2026 to bring together past and present Local Community Fund causes, Co-op members and supporters to mark this milestone; further recognises the valuable work of community organisations across Wiltshire; and thanks everyone involved in the Co-op Local Community Fund for helping local organisations and communities to thrive.