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Maternity care review welcomed by mayor

BBC The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, in the centre of the frame. She is wearing a green dress. Behind her is a screen with a view of the Leeds skyline and a BBC Radio Leeds logo on the right-hand side.BBC
Tracy Brabin has been answering questions from listeners on BBC Radio Leeds

The mayor of West Yorkshire says the experiences of some women under the care of maternity services at Leeds hospitals has been "tragic".

Labour's Tracy Brabin has been answering questions on Message the Mayor on BBC Radio Leeds with presenter Rima Ahmed.

She has also been talking about "mis-steps" in the government's handling of its welfare bill, the national grooming gang inquiry and mass transit for the county.

Read our takeaways from the show below or listen to the full interview here.

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Rapid maternity review means lessons can be learned

"It's utterly tragic, and for those families, catastrophic. I can only say how sorry I am for all of those families that have gone through this."

The mayor is welcoming a "rapid" investigation into maternity care, which will include NHS hospitals in Leeds.

The Care Quality Commission has rated maternity care at Leeds NHS hospitals as "inadequate". The NHS trust says it is committed to making improvements.

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Too many people are harmed on the roads

"We have seen young people who have just passed their test, really excited that they've got a car, they go on a weekend away and fill the car full of their friends - and then, because of inexperience... there's a terrible tragedy."

Brabin wants the government to bring in restrictions for new drivers. She says in Canada, graduated driving licences have reduced deaths among 16 to 18-year-olds by 83%.

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Changes need to be made to benefits

"My job as the mayor is to ensure that everybody who wants to work, can work."

The mayor welcomes changes to the government's welfare bill, and acknowledges there have been "mis-steps" in the way it's been handled.

Brabin hopes the amendments will reassure people in West Yorkshire who have been nervous about losing their Personal Independence Payments.

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We are going to listen to survivors

"[Victims] do not want to be looking in the rear view mirror permanently - they want action now, today, to put those perpetrators behind bars."

The mayor says she's been talking to grooming victims, after the government announced a new inquiry into gangs.

Brabin has previously rejected calls for an inquiry, saying police resources should be focused on getting justice for victims.

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Tram cash is a Spending Review highlight

"It's my mission to have that integrated transport plan across West Yorkshire, so that people can hop on a bus, get on a tram, get on the rail, and have that ability to move around our region."

West Yorkshire's tram plan has received £2.1bn from the government.

The mayor says it was one of the "highlights" of last month's Spending Review, and that she is also investing in cycle routes and bus lanes.

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