John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)
Will the Leader of the House give us the forthcoming business?
The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Alan Campbell)
The business for the week commencing 23 March will include:
Monday 13 April—Debate on a motion on SEND provision and reform. The subject of this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
Tuesday 14 April—Consideration of Lords amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill.
Wednesday 15 April—Consideration of Lords amendments to the Pension Schemes Bill, followed by consideration of Lords message to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Thursday 16 April—General debate on the Modernisation Committee’s first report of the 2024-26 session on “Access to the House of Commons and its procedures” and the House Administration’s response.
Friday 17 April—The House will not be sitting.
The provisional business for the week commencing 20 April includes:
Monday 20 April—If necessary, consideration of a Lords message to the Victims and Courts Bill, followed by, if necessary, consideration of a Lords message to the Crime and Policing Bill.
Tuesday 21 April—Consideration of Lords amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
I can also announce to the House that the state opening of Parliament will take place on Wednesday 13 May 2026.
As is usual, the current Session of Parliament will be prorogued ahead of the King’s Speech and this time will be used to enable logistical and security preparations for the state opening of Parliament.
The date of Prorogation will be confirmed in due course.
John Lamont
I begin by echoing your remarks, Mr Speaker, about our former colleague, David Winnick. I pay my respects to him.
We must all condemn the antisemitic arson attack against the Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green on Monday morning. It was a sickening attack on the Jewish community. Antisemitism has no place in our country, and we must stand together against this hatred and intimidation.
Today is Purple Day—the international day of epilepsy awareness. It is an important opportunity to raise understanding of a condition that affects many people across the United Kingdom. I ask the Leader of the House to join me in recognising the work of charities, campaigners and clinicians who support people with that condition.
May we also take a moment to remember Saleh Mohammadi, aged 19, who was a talented wrestler, and all those executed by the Iranian Government? Their courage must not be forgotten. Every Member of this House should stand in solidarity with the people of Iran in their pursuit of freedom, justice and dignity.
We all want to see the conflict in the middle east brought to an end as quickly as possible, but with rising oil prices, the Government must clarify what they are doing to control inflation and pressures on household budgets. Before the general election, the Labour party promised to cut energy bills by £300. I ask the Leader of the House whether that promise still stands, and when he expects the Chancellor to come forward with her next inevitable U-turn on fuel duty.
With less than 50 days to go until much of the country goes to the polls, the former Deputy Prime Minister and former deputy leader of the Labour party, the right hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Angela Rayner), has given a damning assessment of the Government and the Prime Minister. She said that Labour is “running out of time”, that it is not delivering change fast enough and that it represents
“the establishment, not working people.”
She also described some of the Labour Government’s policies as “un-British”. Does the Leader of the House agree with that assessment, or is the right hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne wrong?
There are also, of course, critical Scottish Parliament elections. The smart way to stop the SNP majority is to vote Scottish Conservative on the peach ballot paper. The SNP is distracted by independence and divisive issues while people face rising prices, weak growth and job insecurity. John Swinney now proposes another push for independence, admitting nobody knows his tactics. Meanwhile, the Labour Government are failing to deliver change. They have abandoned the oil and gas industry in Scotland and broken promises to pensioners and farmers. The Chancellor is driving up bills while increasing debt.
Labour’s repeated U-turns show a Government in chaos, and that chaos is now out in the open, with the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, calling for the Prime Minister to go. Mr Sarwar and the Prime Minister have not spoken in over a month, so I ask the Leader of the House whether the Prime Minister has been banned from Scotland. Has the man supposedly leading the United Kingdom been told not to venture past Carlisle or Coldstream? Is that how weak the Prime Minister has become? Scotland, a place that the Prime Minister visited several times during the general election campaign, is now a no-go area for him.
What of the rest of the Labour Government? Have they also been banned from Labour’s campaign in Scotland? This week, Anas Sarwar said:
“I’ve been open about saying that this is an unpopular UK Labour government and we have an unpopular prime minister, that’s a statement of fact.”
Does the Leader of the House accept that fact? Will this unpopular Labour Government help the Labour campaign in Scotland by staying away, or will they help the SNP by getting involved? The Scottish Conservatives offer a clear alternative: responsible spending, economic growth and lower taxes for hard-working families. This election is about stopping an SNP majority—something we have done before and something we will do again.
Finally, on Tuesday, the official Opposition lost some of our precious debating time because the Chancellor decided to make a statement. Unfortunately, the statement did not announce anything new, and what there was had already been briefed out to Chris Mason at the BBC. May I therefore ask the Leader of the House for another half-day Opposition day debate before the end of the Session?
Mr Speaker, as we approach the Easter recess, may I wish you, the Leader of the House and all Members and their staff a very happy Easter?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank the shadow Deputy Leader of the House for his questions; it is always good to see him in his place. First, I join him in his remarks on the terrible attack in Golders Green. I hope the whole House will join us in condemning this attack on Jewish community ambulances; it was an horrific antisemitic hate crime, and we stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.
This week marked nine years since the murder of PC Keith Palmer, who died protecting this House. His courage and commitment will never be forgotten, and I know that the thoughts of the whole House remain with PC Palmer’s family, friends and colleagues. We thank the police and security officers who keep us and this place safe today.
I join the shadow Deputy Leader of the House and you, Mr Speaker, in paying tribute to David Winnick. With a distinguished tenure of more than 40 years, he was unwavering in his commitment to his constituency, and I am sure Members will join me in sending our condolences to David’s friends and family.
I have just announced that the King’s Speech will take place on Wednesday 13 May. At its conclusion, this parliamentary Session will have seen the delivery of over 50 Bills. Through that legislation, we are improving renters’ rights, changing planning laws to streamline the delivery of new homes, bringing our railways into public ownership and strengthening employment rights. We are delivering on the changes that we promised, and we will continue to build on that in the next parliamentary Session.
I join the shadow Deputy Leader of the House in wishing all Members a very happy Easter. It will be particularly special for the newly ordained Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to take the role. I hope that all Members will be able to spend some time with their families and in their constituencies during the recess.
Let me turn to the specific remarks from the shadow Deputy Leader of the House. I join him in recognising the important work of the charities, consultants, families and others involved in the battle against epilepsy on national epilepsy day. I also join him in standing in solidarity with the people of Iran. Of course, we hope that the conflict will end soon but also that it ends justly.
The shadow Deputy Leader of the House asked about the cost of living. We are already bringing down energy bills by £120, and I am sure the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will keep the House updated. As this international crisis unfolds, we will need to take careful stock of what is happening, particularly to energy bills, and we will not only keep the House updated but, if further action is necessary, we will take it.
The shadow Deputy Leader of the House referred to the remarks of my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Angela Rayner), the former Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. I have just read out a list of this Government’s achievements in the first Session. She was at the heart of many of those achievements, so the divide that he seeks to create is not one that exists in reality.
The shadow Deputy Leader of the House talked about letting people down, including pensioners. Pensioners will next month see a considerable rise in their state pension as a result of the triple lock, which we are committed to keeping, unlike the Conservative party.
The shadow Deputy Leader of the House also talked about the situation in Scotland. I can reassure him that there will be plenty of support for our colleagues and plenty of opportunities for campaigning north of the border, where the choice is a very clear one: to continue with the failure and underachievement of the SNP Government or real change under Scottish Labour. That is the choice, and there will be plenty of opportunities for every member of the parliamentary Labour party and of the party to be out making the case for that change. In terms of what he said about the Scottish Tories, it was great to see him finishing on a joke.
Mr Speaker
May I say to the two Members who came in late, please do not stand to ask a question as I do not want to embarrass you both?
Sojan Joseph (Ashford) (Lab)
On Friday, I met my constituent Andrew Mackay, whose wife, Katy, passed away at the end of September. Like Andrew, Katy was a retired civil servant, having worked for Border Force for over 40 years. Nearly six months later, Andrew is still not receiving his widower’s pension. Despite his repeated calls for updates, his only contact from Capita, which administers the civil service pension scheme, has been confirmation that it has received the necessary documents. After more than 80 years of combined public service by him and his late wife, Andrew feels badly let down. I have previously written to Capita and, following my meeting with Andrew, I wrote to the Minister, but could the Leader of the House find time for a debate on Capita and what can be done to hold it to account?
Sir Alan Campbell
I know that this issue has created immense feeling among hon. Members across the House, and concerns about Capita have been raised by many hon. Members during business questions and at other opportunities. The delays are simply unacceptable and they must be resolved as a matter of urgency. I note that Capita representatives are currently appearing before the Public Accounts Committee to discuss the matter, so I hope that not only can some light be shed on what is happening but that progress can be made. If my hon. Friend gives me the details of the specific case he raises, I will ensure it is raised directly with Ministers.
Bobby Dean (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)
Mr Speaker, I echo your tribute to the late David Winnick.
I join Members from all parts of the House in condemning the attack in north London—this House stands united against antisemitism. I am grateful for the Government’s swift commitment to replace the ambulances, which was an important gesture.
I welcome the confirmation of the date for the King’s Speech. As the Leader of the House knows, I will not be present as my first baby is due in a few weeks’ time so I will be on leave, but I hope it all goes well—[Interruption.] Well, as well as it can.
On Iran, it is clear that Trump’s reckless war is causing death and destruction in the region, and that it is having repercussions for everybody across the world. I welcome the fact that the Chancellor has made a couple of statements on this issue already. She addressed the particular problem facing heating oil customers and has offered some reassurances that there will be broader targeted support in the weeks to come, but may I bring the House’s attention to another group who have not yet been spoken about: district heat network customers?
Community-based district heat networks are often tied to a single supplier. Customers often live in blocks of flats, usually in cities, and at the moment they are not covered by the Ofgem price cap. Having been a district heat network customer myself, I know that customers are sometimes protected from global supply shocks, but that depends on the network, where the heat comes from and the contracts that the supplier has signed up to. Because they are not protected by the Ofgem price cap, those customers will be extremely worried about what the latest events mean for them, so will the Leader of the House organise for the relevant Minister to come to the House to reassure those customers about what support will be put in place for them in the forthcoming energy crisis?
Sir Alan Campbell
I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s comments about the Government’s response to what happened in Golders Green.
The hon. Gentleman raises the issue of heat network suppliers that commercially contract for fuel that powers heat network. As he said, they are not subject to the domestic energy price cap. New regulations came into force in January to allow Ofgem to regulate heat networks, giving it the power to investigate and intervene where heat network prices charged to consumers appear to be disproportionate or unfair. We are committed to supporting those who need help most with energy bills during the crisis, and the Chancellor outlined our early steps on that, but I will draw his remarks to the attention of the relevant Minister.
On a personal level, I wish the hon. Gentleman and his partner well over the next few weeks—we look forward to hearing good news. May I also say that it is something of a mystery that the names Alana and Alan have not made a comeback as a popular child’s name? I leave that with him.
Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough and Thornaby East) (Lab)
May I associate myself with the remarks made by the Leader of the House concerning our colleague David Winnick?
The Leader of the House has just announced that the Crime and Policing Bill will come back to us for consideration of Lords amendments on 14 April. It will return to the Commons massively expanded and including measures to restrict protests, which were inserted in the Lords. Those measures were snuck in in the same way that a predecessor Conservative Home Secretary did with the Public Order Bill of 2022-23. As this Government seek to restrict the campaigning methods that the suffragettes and the anti-apartheid movement used, will the Leader of the House confirm that he has spoken to the Chief Whip and Mr Speaker, who have been written to by dozens of MPs? Will he confirm that if the Government will not withdraw the relevant clause, there will be a full debate and a dedicated Division on this proposal for Members of this House?
Sir Alan Campbell
I am always conscious of the importance of providing sufficient time for parliamentary scrutiny, and I appreciate my hon. Friend’s lobbying on this matter. As I have just announced, we will have a full day after the recess to consider Lords amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, so my hon. Friend will have an opportunity to make his case. What is called for a Division is a matter not for me, but for the Chair.
Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)
I thank the Leader of the House for announcing the business for the two weeks after Easter. I note that yesterday the House rose early when the Government business finished. We could have had a three-hour debate in Backbench Business time if that had been made available. I also note that we are not being given any time in the week after Easter, other than half a day on the Monday when we come back.
In Westminster Hall, the debates on Tuesday 14 April will be on hidden credit liabilities and the role of the Financial Conduct Authority. On Thursday 16 April, there will be a Select Committee statement from the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, followed by debates on the housing needs of young people and the NHS federated data platform. On Tuesday 21 April, there will be a debate on the merits of the independent national revision body on overseeing wheelchair provision. On Thursday 23 April, there will be a debate on access to education and training for young adult carers, followed by a debate on gambling advertising.
I remind the House that Government Parliamentary Private Secretaries should not put in bids to the Backbench Business Committee. I am aware that the hon. Member for Dudley (Sonia Kumar) became a PPS after she submitted her bid, and I am grateful to her for arranging for someone else to take on her debate. In addition, may I urge the House to respond to the Modernisation Committee’s consultation on Backbench Business time and petitions?
We had a lively debate on potholes in Transport questions. We have all had the dreadful experience of having a tyre go when driving over a pothole. The pothole is reported and the workforce from the council come round, pour some pitch into it and roll it, but then it rains and the pitch is washed away. In Harrow, we have a unique solution to that. We have a Pothole Pro—affectionately known as Pothole Pete—that recycles the surface and cements a layer to ensure that it cannot be removed. That means that it is far more efficient and effective. Will the Leader of the House commend this to councils up and down the country?
Sir Alan Campbell
As ever, I thank the hon. Gentleman for his work and for the commitment of his Committee to this place. He and I have discussed on a number of occasions how best we can use time in this place. As he has said, the Modernisation Committee is looking at that now, and I echo his request that Members take part in that consultation and put in a submission.
I cannot make a promise that I am unable to keep. Timings over the next few weeks will be somewhat uncertain, because we will be depending on messages that might or might not come back from the other place, but I will certainly bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman says.
The issue of potholes has been raised with me from across the House on a number of occasions and, I note, it was raised this morning in Transport questions. We are investing £24 billion in maintaining and improving motorways and local roads across the country. As my right hon. Friend the Transport Secretary has said, drivers are fed up with the state of roads, and the extra funding that we have provided is for potholes and road maintenance; it is not to be diverted elsewhere. As for my reaction to Pothole Pete, I will draw it to the attention of Transport Ministers and seek their views, rather than give my own.
Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West) (Lab)
Last week, I had the pleasure of holding a chess tournament at the Royal School Wolverhampton in my constituency, bringing together primary and secondary school pupils to socialise and compete for individual and team medals. I even managed to play a couple of games myself. Chess is invaluable to young people, helping them to develop intellectual and emotional skills such as problem-solving, resilience, patience and concentration. Will the Leader of the House join me in commending the outstanding work of the Chess in Schools and Communities charity—without which the event would not have been possible—and the Royal School for hosting the event, and will he please ask the Secretary of State for Education to advise us on when the funds earmarked to develop chess in schools will be made available via a tender?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for that question—I know that he is both a keen advocate for chess and a keen player. I join him in commending the Chess in Schools and Communities charity for its work in teaching chess to young people, and the Royal School Wolverhampton for hosting the event. I will raise his specific question about funding with the Department for Education and get him the answer he needs.
David Davis (Goole and Pocklington) (Con)
This morning’s papers report that my two national health service trusts are the worst in the country. One of the more stupid proposals of the management of one of those trusts was a plan to downgrade Goole and District hospital in my constituency. Under the leadership of the former chief executive, one Jonathan Lofthouse, those underperforming trusts repeatedly lied to me, so the House will not be surprised to hear that we had some robust conversations. Mr Lofthouse was then put on gardening leave at the astonishing salary of £285,000 a year. I would have sacked him out of hand; instead, he is now NHS England’s director of turnaround and recovery for my region, the very body tasked with fixing the failing trusts of which he was a cause. This is the institutional rewarding of failure, and it is by no means the first time. Can we therefore have a debate on the national health service’s habitual strategy of failing upwards managers who have let down our constituents?
Sir Alan Campbell
I am shocked by the suggestion that anyone should lie to Members of Parliament—that is entirely unacceptable. The right hon. Gentleman has put on record his concern about that, and I have no doubt that he delivered his concerns in a robust manner. He tried his very best to give as much detail as he could in the limited time we have this morning; I suggest that either he seeks an Adjournment debate on this matter to give further voice to his concerns, or if he wants a meeting with Health Ministers to make his case, I will arrange one for him.
Ms Julie Minns (Carlisle) (Lab)
As the current Youth Parliament draws to the end of its term, can I put on record my thanks to you, Mr Speaker, for your continued support of our Youth Parliament? Earlier this week, I met Bobby Forbes, who is Cumbria’s Member of Youth Parliament. Yesterday, the Select Committee that he chairs published a report on reform of personal, social, health and economic education. As this Government are rightly extending the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, could the Leader of the House please explain to us as Members of this Parliament how we could discuss the recommendations of the Youth Select Committee’s report?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this important matter to the House. The Youth Select Committee is an excellent initiative, and this Government continue to take steps to ensure that young people’s voices can be heard in our democracy, not least in the dependence we placed on the voices of young people when we drew together our national youth strategy. If I may, I will share my hon. Friend’s question with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which works very closely with the Committee. I also recommend that she applies for a Westminster Hall debate, so that all MPs have the opportunity to discuss the report’s recommendations and the good work that I hope is being done in their constituencies to promote the voices of young people.
Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)
My office has seen an increase in my constituents coming to me because of an uptick in visa processing delays—visas for which they are often paying an increased fee. I really do worry about the sustainability of the Home Office’s processes, particularly in the light of the immigration reforms that this Government are making. Will the Leader of the House ensure that there is an update from the Department about what it is doing to address those delays?
Sir Alan Campbell
I will draw the hon. Lady’s concerns to the attention of the Department, and ensure either that she gets an update individually or—if appropriate—that the House gets an update.
Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab)
Currently, the rules and standards for taxis vary across the country, and they can operate in completely different areas from where they get their licence. Government action to tackle that will take a step forward next week when the consultation ends. Derby taxi drivers have worked with me and my hon. Friend the Member for Derby South (Baggy Shanker) to push for higher standards, greater safety and a level playing field for taxis. Will the Leader of the House join me in encouraging drivers and passengers to take part in that consultation? Will he ensure that there is parliamentary time to hear from Ministers about next steps, once we have the results?
Sir Alan Campbell
Taxi and private hire vehicles play a vital part in local transport, connecting residents to the local economy and enabling businesses and residents to reach wider transport networks. I certainly join my hon. Friend in encouraging local authorities, taxi and private hire vehicle businesses and passengers to participate in the consultation before it closes. We also have the Minister with responsibility for these matters, my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham South (Lilian Greenwood), sitting next to me.
Sir Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)
Mr Speaker, may I endorse your tribute to the late David Winnick? I had occasion to observe him in action in this House for the first 20 years of my time here, and I can certainly confirm that he was a strong character with an independent mind. That is the best tribute one can make to a resolute Back Bencher.
May I appeal for a debate in Government time on the importance of the credibility of consultation processes, bearing in mind that we have been through one for local government reform and our contributions seem to have been overwhelmingly ignored? It would be a shame if people felt that there was no point in participating in a consultation process because the outcome had been predetermined on party political grounds.
Sir Alan Campbell
I am grateful for what the right hon. Gentleman says about David Winnick. He was a man of independent mind, and as a former Whip, I can attest to that.
On the wider matter of consultations and reviews, I hope that the public do not get to a situation where they believe that their views, having been given, do not count. The reality is that in some cases people will give their views and they simply do not get the outcome that they want. The right hon. Gentleman will know that the Government are keeping under review the number of consultations and reviews. At the appropriate time, I am sure that Ministers will want to bring forward their views, and perhaps we will have a debate on the matter.
Jim McMahon (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton) (Lab/Co-op)
My constituents, Cassie and Ryan Claydon, suffered the loss of their unborn child, Matilda, at 36 weeks. Like every parent in England and Wales who goes through this trauma, they were required to attend the registrar’s office in person to register the stillbirth. Sitting in a waiting room with new parents and babies made the grief even harder than it needed to be. I am supporting their calls for the parents of stillborn babies to be able to register remotely, as they can already in Scotland. Will the Leader of the House advise on the best way to secure that change, and will he join me in crediting the campaign led by Cassie and Ryan?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important matter and for how he has done so. I am sure the whole House will join me in recognising Cassie and Ryan’s campaign for this change after such a devastating experience. I understand that the General Register Office is considering options for registering births and deaths over the telephone or online to minimise the burden on bereaved families, but I will make sure that Ministers in the Home Office have heard my hon. Friend’s question and that he gets an update.
Dr Danny Chambers (Winchester) (LD)
I will bring up one more time the state of our roads, particularly in Hampshire. I was a horse vet before I was elected, so there is probably not a single road I have not driven down. Thankfully I had a 4x4, because I genuinely needed that for the roads, not just the farm tracks. Where I live in Shawford, they are not just potholes, but craters; it is like driving on the surface of the moon. Hampshire county council, run by the Conservatives, is saying that it has no money to fix the potholes. I know that council budgets are not the remit of central Government, but potholes have become such a problem. Is there the opportunity to have a debate or a review, so that we can have some emergency funding to fix these roads? It is not fair that our constituents need to pay for financial mismanagement.
Sir Alan Campbell
We are investing £24 billion in maintaining and improving motorways and local roads across the country, and a record £7.3 billion for councils over the next four years, but in some cases questions need to be directed towards councils on how they are using that money. As I said previously, the Secretary of State is very keen that it is spent in the right way, but I appreciate the concern of the hon. Gentleman’s constituents and, indeed, of the farmers he previously worked with. I am quite sure that they will all be keen to learn about the action we are taking not only to tackle potholes, but to tackle vets’ bills.
Emma Lewell (South Shields) (Lab)
Yesterday I was very sorry to be absent from the very powerful Adjournment debate led by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Rebecca Long Bailey), who is seeking justice for our nuclear veterans after previously covered-up information has proved that there was radiation fallout. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House knows that this is the longest-running scandal in British history. May I plead with him that, in preparing for the new Session, he advocates for a one-year special inquiry to be included in the King’s Speech?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is a tireless campaigner on these matters, and I thank her for that. I will not speculate on what might or might not be in the King’s Speech, but I will certainly draw her remarks to the attention of the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Andrew Snowden (Fylde) (Con)
Morgan McSweeney resigned from the Government in disgrace over his role in the Mandelson scandal. The key word is “resigned”—he was not made redundant. I have been asking the Cabinet Office whether he has received a taxpayer-funded cash payout from the Government as part of his deal for exiting No. 10. I asked a named day written parliamentary question the day after he resigned, and the question was ignored. I asked another named day written parliamentary question that was due an answer on Monday, and it was ignored. I raised a point of order on the Floor of the House yesterday, and I have still heard nothing. It is a straightforward question: either he did receive a cash payout for leaving No. 10, or he did not. If he did, how much was it? The Government have had six weeks to provide this information, and I have made three formal attempts to get them to do so. Does the Leader of the House think that is acceptable?
Mr Speaker
Order. We still have a lot of Members to get in. The hon. Gentleman is clearly riled by this issue and keeps raising it, so he might be better off applying for an Adjournment debate.
Sir Alan Campbell
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I certainly echo what you have just said about applying for an Adjournment debate, if that is what the hon. Gentleman wants. He will know that my very strong view is that Members of this House who ask reasonable questions—indeed, any questions—should get an answer wherever possible. I will follow up on his behalf and see if we can get the answer he seeks.
Grahame Morris (Easington) (Lab)
As Members across the House will be well aware from their own constituency caseloads, the performance of Capita in administering the civil service pension scheme has been disastrous. May we have a debate in Government time on the decision to award Capita the Synergy contract for shared services across Government Departments, which is worth up to £950 million—notwithstanding Labour’s manifesto commitment to bring about the biggest wave of insourcing for a generation? With respect, could I prevail on the Leader of the House to ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to meet urgently with the Public and Commercial Services Union, whose members are worried that they will face similar delays in receiving their own salaries and will find themselves unable to pay their rent, mortgages and other bills?
Sir Alan Campbell
I will certainly draw my hon. Friend’s remarks to the attention of the relevant Minister. The payroll contract was signed following a robust 12-month procurement process, but it was undertaken prior to the recent issues with Capita’s administration of the civil service pension scheme. Whether it is pensions or payroll, our priority is to ensure that we get continuity of service and value for money for the public.
Pete Wishart (Perth and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
Can we have a debate about the rise of the far right across the whole UK? There is barely a constituency in the country that is not touched by its poison, hate and misinformation as it tries to continue to divide our communities, but on Saturday we fight back. The Together Alliance—an alliance of political parties, trade unions and cultural organisations—will take to London’s streets with the message of love, hope and unity in what will be the biggest ever march against the far right we have ever seen. I am pretty sure that the Leader of the House will want to wish this endeavour well, and maybe we will even see him along with us on Saturday.
Sir Alan Campbell
It is important that people make their voices heard with their concerns about the far right. It is important that we stand up to the division that the far right seeks to bring not just to our local communities, but to our nation, particularly in the run-up to local elections. It is important that we expose not only that, but—where the far right is present in local government—its record, which is invariably appalling.
Peter Swallow (Bracknell) (Lab)
The hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) may call me Pothole Pete after this question. Residents in Bracknell Forest are frustrated about potholes, so I welcome the fact that Bracknell Forest council has committed over £7 million to fixing local roads in this year’s budget, backed by millions of pounds of support from this Government. Does the Leader of the House agree that this shows how a Labour council and the Labour Government can work together to address residents’ priorities and deliver better roads across the borough?
Sir Alan Campbell
Yes, I agree that where councils are doing it right—in this case, a Labour council is doing it right—it is important that their record is out there. As I have said, our record funding settlement over the next four years will enable local authorities to fill millions of additional potholes. This is not just about throwing money at the problem; it is about making sure that the money is spent on fixing roads. Where good local councils, such as my hon. Friend’s, have such a record, I hope residents, if they are going to the polls in May, appreciate that situation.
John Glen (Salisbury) (Con)
I represent Salisbury hospital, which has one of the eight specialist spinal units in the country. I am a member of the all-party parliamentary group on spinal cord injury, which is chaired by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East (Andy McDonald). We are very concerned about the Government’s plans to commission spinal services through integrated care boards, which directly contradicts a recent report advocating a national strategy as the best way to maintain specialist nursing numbers and avoid a postcode lottery for treatment and outcomes. Will the Leader of the House ask a Minister to give a statement to the House on the rationale behind this decision, which has massive implications for a very vulnerable community of patients?
Sir Alan Campbell
The right hon. Gentleman will know that there are concerns across the House about the way that spinal injuries have been treated in the past. I am pleased that he paid tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East (Andy McDonald), who has an exemplary record in this regard. Because people, including my hon. Friend and the right hon. Gentleman, are concerned about this, if he wishes to meet the appropriate Health Minister, I will help to arrange a meeting for both of them, and for other Members if they are interested.
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)
In January, 15-year-old Jordan Kerr went to the aid of a person who had collapsed on the platform at Drumchapel train station. Jordan administered CPR—cardiopulmonary resuscitation—having learned that skill in the Army cadets, and ultimately helped to save the passenger’s life. Will the Leader of the House join me in offering our thanks and congratulations to Jordan and wish him all success in his campaign to have a defibrillator installed at Drumchapel station?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this matter. Over 110,000 defibrillators are registered in the UK, and over 30,000 have been added over the past two years, many as a result of local community-led action. I join her in offering our sincere thanks to Jordan for his lifesaving actions—and I also thank those involved in the Army cadets for the fantastic work they do in training young people—and in wishing him all the best with his campaign to install a defibrillator at Drumchapel station.
Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills) (LD)
My constituent Michael is autistic and actively psychotic, and he has a confirmed lack of capacity. His parents have power of attorney. His chronic medical problems include cysts deep in his chest that could burst at any time, bowel disease, myopathy and sleep apnoea. His family contacts me with increasing distress as Michael has not washed or changed his clothes in eight months, refuses food, makes direct threats of violence to his mother, forbids his parents from using the phone, and compels his father to drive him around town after midnight. A multidisciplinary team decided on 3 March that a court of protection application was needed, but no agency accepts responsibility for filing. Will the Leader of the House ask the Health Secretary to ensure that his proposed reforms to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 address cases where capacity assessment has been made? All the professionals agree on the course of action but no statutory agency will act, leaving his elderly carers at risk of violence in their own home.
Sir Alan Campbell
I am very concerned to hear about the case the hon. Lady raises and will certainly draw her concerns to the attention of the Health Secretary.
Harpreet Uppal (Huddersfield) (Lab)
Tommy’s Lounge in Huddersfield is a dedicated drop-in support hub for veterans and their families. It provides peer support, mental health signposting and community connection. However, the service is facing a funding shortfall. The Government have announced Operation Valour to build a national network of recognised veteran support centres. Will the Leader of the House ask Ministers what emergency funding is available for established community veteran support organisations such as Tommy’s Lounge, and how the Government will ensure that existing services are not lost while the Valour framework is rolled out?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for her question and commend everyone at Tommy’s Lounge for their work supporting our veterans. I will raise it with the Veterans Minister on her behalf. Operation Valour is a cornerstone of the Government’s veterans strategy, the first in over seven years. It will better connect local services, charities and national services, but she is absolutely right to draw attention to what happens while those services are being rolled out.
Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) (Con)
The Government have designated April the Month of the Military Child to recognise the unique demands and pressures on the children of service personnel, particularly in times of heightened international tension and when we have military personnel deployed on operations overseas. Will the Leader of the House join me in encouraging all Members to pay particular attention to whether they have sons and daughters of service personnel in their constituency, to focus on them and understand them as much as possible, and to see what provision is being made for them in schools?
Sir Alan Campbell
The hon. Gentleman raises an important point, which is particularly significant at this time of international conflict. The House will take note of what he says. I certainly join him in saying that where there are children of military families—and, indeed, friends and family who will be concerned—MPs should do everything they can to ensure they get the full support they need.
Phil Brickell (Bolton West) (Lab)
In Bolton West, my constituents are concerned that proposed funding for a section of link road called Park Avenue has been trumpeted as unlocking a further 4,000 homes near Westhoughton. The link road will only take traffic so far, causing congestion elsewhere. My constituents do not object in principle to new house building, but developers have a track record of building homes first and then completing infrastructure as an afterthought. In the meantime, my constituents continue to endure what is now a decade of frustration with insufficient roads, school places or GP capacity. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate in Government time to discuss the importance of an infrastructure-first approach to local development?
Sir Alan Campbell
For too many homeowners, as my hon. Friend says, the experience of living on a newly developed housing estate has been tainted by the consequences of unadopted infrastructure. We have recently concluded our consultation on changes to the national planning policy framework and we will publish our response in due course. I will ensure that the House is kept updated.
Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)
Following roadwork infrastructure improvements in Ilkley, many residents and local businesses have been struggling since the middle of January due to utility works that are taking place on the middle of the A65. Following many a meeting with Bradford council’s traffic management officers, it seems that the traffic management plan that was signed off initially did not mandate that the work was undertaken round the clock 24/7, including weekends. This has led to huge inconvenience, so may we have a debate in Government time on how, to start with, we can have better traffic management plans that cause the least disruption for residents and local businesses?
Sir Alan Campbell
I hope that Bradford council has heard the hon. Gentleman’s concerns, which will obviously be shared by his residents. I invite him to apply for an Adjournment debate to raise not just this specific issue, but the wider issue of utility works going forward.
Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)
The majority of businesses on our high streets add great value to our communities, but there are some where criminality takes place, and that is putting people off visiting their local town centres. Where premises are host to illegal activity, councils can issue closure orders prohibiting access, but those orders can only be made for a maximum of three months before dodgy businesses are allowed to open and operate again. Would the Leader of the House consider a debate in Government time on how we can ensure that local authorities have additional means, set out in statute, to bear down on illicit activity that really harms our high streets?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. We are committed to reviving our high streets. The Home Office is in the process of establishing a cross-departmental taskforce to develop a strategic, long-term policy response to things like money laundering and illegality to ensure that our high streets are fit for purpose. I will make sure that Ministers have heard her concerns and that when the taskforce begins its work, she gets regular updates.
Cameron Thomas (Tewkesbury) (LD)
A constituent of mine experienced several instances of sexual harassment within the Church of England’s diocese of London between 2017 and 2020. Within that timeline, she was also raped by a church worker after she was coerced by the Church to report historical abuse. Through a series of written questions, I learned recently that the Church of England body responsible for managing safeguarding risks is also responsible for managing reputational risks. It strikes me that those two objectives are incompatible. Does the Leader of the House agree?
Sir Alan Campbell
It certainly sounds that way. Sexual harassment—wherever it takes place and whoever is responsible—is entirely unacceptable. If the hon. Gentleman seeks a meeting with the relevant Minister to address his concerns, I will ensure that he gets it.
Dave Robertson (Lichfield) (Lab)
Not for the first time at business questions, I am raising the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership, which is a multi-academy trust in the west midlands that runs six schools in my constituency, and 24 in total. The trust found itself in significant financial distress at the start of this year, leading to nine days of strike action across a number of schools. The new leadership at the trust is working hard to rectify that; it has taken great strides, and the strikes are now paused. The major blockage for the trust now, though, is servicing a debt that was accrued under previous leadership. Will the Leader of the House secure a meeting for me and other affected Members with the Department for Education to discuss what we can do about how that debt is restructured, with the aim of saving up to 23 teachers’ jobs?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to continue to raise these matters on behalf of his constituents. I will do everything I can to ensure that he gets that meeting with the relevant Minister.
Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)
My constituents share the same hospital trust as those of my right hon. Friend the Member for Goole and Pocklington (David Davis), who raised a number of issues earlier. I certainly share his concerns and criticisms. It is important to my constituents to be reassured that, despite the failings of senior management, frontline services are still being delivered. Last week, I visited the renal unit at Grimsby hospital, which is operated by Nephrocare. The unit has an excellent manager, Renata Jaworska, and the service it provides was clearly well received by the patients I spoke to. Could the Leader of the House arrange for a debate on the provision of services by companies similar to Nephrocare, which clearly provide an excellent service within the structure of the NHS?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this matter, and I join him in thanking Renata and all the hard-working staff at Nephrocare. The Government are committed to improving our healthcare, and our 10-year health plan will fundamentally rewire and future-proof our NHS. I encourage him to seek an Adjournment debate, not only to highlight the good news in his area, but to look at what the future might be.
Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab)
The right of tenants and residents in social housing to manage their own estate is an important one. Many tenant management organisations deliver excellent services for their residents. However, that is not the case for residents of the Loughborough estate in my constituency, who have been badly failed by the Loughborough estate management board for many years, with poor repairs and maintenance services and truly shocking conditions on the estate. The mechanisms to resolve those issues are within the control of the very organisation that is failing residents. The renewal ballot for the LEMB is now more than a year overdue, and a recent annual general meeting was held outside the rules, with many residents denied entry. Can we have a debate in Government time on resident and tenant management organisations, and changes in the law that may be needed to ensure that, when things go as badly wrong as they have on the Loughborough estate, steps can be taken quickly to intervene?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for her question on behalf of not just the Loughborough estate, but her wider constituency. Many tenant management organisations provide excellent resident-led housing services, but when they go wrong it is right that they are held to account. We are reviewing the relevant regulations and guidance with the help of an expert steering group, and we will set out our next steps once the review concludes. I will make sure that the relevant Minister hears of my hon. Friend’s concerns and that she gets an update when those next steps become clear.
Steff Aquarone (North Norfolk) (LD)
A small business owner in my constituency who relies on Facebook and Instagram to market her flower business has had her accounts disabled and advertising blocked after she was mistakenly flagged as spam by the system; she has heard nothing back. All the while, we know that scam and spam adverts—many powered by artificial intelligence —litter social media platforms. Will the Leader of the House make time to consider the importance of social media to British businesses and the responsibilities of the social media companies to support legitimate businesses and tackle scammers? If the Government are pulling the AI Bill, will legislation come forward urgently to tackle AI-powered scams?
Sir Alan Campbell
I encourage the hon. Gentleman to seek an Adjournment debate so that he can raise his concerns about what has happened to his constituent. He is right that it is vital for many small and medium-sized businesses to be able to access social media. I will not speculate about what will happen in legislation, but I am sure that Ministers will have heard his concerns.
Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)
In recent weeks, I have heard from many fathers in my constituency concerned about the attitude they have encountered from the Child Maintenance Service and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, including assumptions that they are trying to shirk payments, absence of support when ex-partners cut off their contact with their children, and accusations being recorded without their side even being heard. Yes, there are manipulative and abusive men out there, but most dads are not like that and deserve to be treated fairly, not with prejudice. May we have a debate on the experiences of fathers in dealing with our family courts and the CMS?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing that matter to the House. I am sure that colleagues will have heard similar from some of their constituents. The Child Maintenance Service plays a vital role in supporting families, but the Government are clear that it can do more to deliver a fair and trustworthy service. He may know that last week there was a Westminster Hall debate on the effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service, but I will draw his concerns to the attention of the relevant Minister.
James Wild (North West Norfolk) (Con)
It is six weeks since, at Prime Minister’s questions, I raised the case of my constituent who had three family members killed in a dangerous driving crime by a foreign offender, after which the Prisons Minister refused to act to prevent the offender’s deportation. I requested a meeting with the Minister on behalf of the family, who, as victims, want to explain the impact on them, but a month on there has been no reply. Will the Leader of the House use his office to remind Lord Timpson of the importance of timely responses to such requests?
Sir Alan Campbell
Lord Timpson is a truly excellent Prisons Minister. I do not know the detail of what may have gone wrong in this case, but I will certainly draw the hon. Gentleman’s concerns to his attention.
Sonia Kumar (Dudley) (Lab)
I had the pleasure of visiting the newly opened Pens Meadow SEND school in Dudley. That fantastic and long-awaited school has transformed opportunities for local children, families and staff, and stands as a testament to the vision of the headteacher, Marie Hunter. Will the Leader of the House join me in welcoming the school and thanking Marie and her team, and will he grant time for a debate on improving SEND provision in the Black Country?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for raising that matter. We will reform the SEND system, because we need to transform the life chances of every child with additional needs. We have already committed £4 billion to make every mainstream school in England an inclusive school. I join her in welcoming Marie Hunter and all of the staff at the new Pens Meadow school. I have just announced that there will be a debate on SEND on the first day back after the Easter recess, and I hope that my hon. Friend can make her case then.
Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Reform)
This week, I was shocked to hear about the unacceptable living conditions that my constituents are enduring at Haynes Park Court in Hornchurch. Leaseholders and tenants paying substantial service charges report rat infestations, black mould, damp and water leaks, alongside concerns about antisocial behaviour throughout the estate. Despite repeated attempts to engage with the managing company, London and Quadrant, about these issues, residents feel ignored, neglected and completely let down. Does the Leader of the House agree that housing associations like L&Q must be held to account? Will he make time for a debate on improving living conditions for my constituents and others who are facing similarly appalling conditions at the hands of housing associations that are failing in their duty to local residents?
Sir Alan Campbell
Housing associations are required to deliver on the regulatory standards set out by the social housing regulator. Referrals can be made to the regulator where there are concerns that registered providers are not delivering on the proper standards, but I will make sure that the relevant Minister hears the hon. Member’s concerns.
Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth) (Lab)
When I went campaigning with Paul Godzik, Suzanne Grahame and Siobhan Paterson, three outstanding Scottish Labour candidates in the Holyrood elections, I was often asked, “What’s the difference between Scottish Labour and the SNP?” Well, let us try this one on for size. I joined the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Grangemouth in December as she announced £120 million to save 500 jobs on site and the future of the UK chemicals industry. Let us compare that with the SNP Government announcement yesterday. They have decided that they are going to buy more buses built in China than in Larbert and Falkirk. I know how I feel, but what does the Leader of the House make of the SNP abandoning Scottish workers, communities and industry?
Sir Alan Campbell
First of all, my hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the record of this Government in supporting workers at Grangemouth. He is also absolutely correct in his analysis and condemnation of the record of the SNP in this case and in many others too. The reality is that the SNP Government are, and have been for some time, letting down Scottish workers. It is disgraceful that they are making decisions without due regard to what is best for Scottish workers. I hope that they have heard my hon. Friend here today and that his constituents and people more widely reflect on that when they get the opportunity to do so in just a few weeks’ time.
Clive Jones (Wokingham) (LD)
Two people a day are diagnosed with cancer during or right after pregnancy, yet their maternity leave cannot be deferred. That means that mums are missing out on precious time bonding with their baby—time they will never get back—as they undergo urgent and necessary treatment. It is clear that legislation must be changed to properly support mothers with cancer, so will the Leader of the House allow a debate in Government time on the merits of allowing mothers to defer maternity leave until their cancer treatment is complete?
Sir Alan Campbell
That is a very interesting question. It brings together two things that the Government are determined to do: to make sure that we provide the very best support for people suffering from cancer, and to make sure that we support parents, particularly new parents, if this should arise. I do not know the answer to the hon. Member’s question what can be done, but I will bring the matter to the attention of the relevant Minister and see whether the Department is about to bring forward something that might address it.
Paul Waugh (Rochdale) (Lab/Co-op)
The latest Department for Education performance tables rank Rochdale sixth-form college as the No. 1 sixth-form college in England. It already scored highly on exam results, but it is now first in England for A-level progress, applied general progress, academic progress and, crucially, progress for disadvantaged students in both A-levels and BTECs. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating all the students and staff at Rochdale sixth-form college on proving that Rochdale students really are a class act?
Sir Alan Campbell
I will, absolutely. I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this to the House. I join him in congratulating everyone at Rochdale sixth-form college, including all the students, on their exceptional, fantastic achievement. Our education reforms will ensure that the country’s education system delivers opportunity for all, and we have invested £800 million extra in further education for 16 to 19-year-olds. I shall certainly draw to the Education Secretary’s attention the success in his constituency, and long may it continue.
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
Mr Naimi, a young Baha’i in Iran, was tortured into giving a false confession that was later broadcast on state media. He has been subjected to severe beatings, interrogation, and mock executions, in which he had a noose placed around his neck. All this happened in an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps detention facility. This has serious implications for the wider Baha’i community in Iran. Will the Leader of the House ask the Foreign Secretary to set out what representations the Government have made to the Iranian authorities regarding Mr Naimi’s case, and to raise concerns about the treatment of Baha’is and the use of false confessions in Iran?
Sir Alan Campbell
As ever, the hon. Gentleman raises a serious issue, and I thank him for that. We strongly condemn the repression of religious minorities in Iran, notwithstanding the grave uncertainty about what is happening now. This issue will continue, whatever the outcome of the situation there. The case that he raises is concerning. I will make sure that he gets a response from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office on what it has done, and what its intention is. On a personal note, may I wish the hon. Gentleman happy birthday for yesterday?
Lorraine Beavers (Blackpool North and Fleetwood) (Lab)
At Jameson Road landfill site, the stink is only getting worse. It is making the lives of my constituents unbearable, yet the crooks responsible at Transwaste still have not gone back to Yorkshire, and have set up a new company called Transwaste NW, presumably to hide their dodgy activities. Will the Leader of the House assure me that this Government will not allow firms like Transwaste to evade accountability for their crimes?
Sir Alan Campbell
I can, because this is a very concerning matter. This week, the Government published their waste crime action plan, which sets out a zero-tolerance approach to waste crime. I understand that the Environment Agency is considering all regulatory options to reduce and prevent any impact on the people of Fleetwood, and it has been clear with Transwaste about these expectations. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to call out Transwaste today. The Environment Agency will continue to hold it to account, and will work closely with the local council.
Jacob Collier (Burton and Uttoxeter) (Lab)
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent host excellent tourism hotspots and venues, and my constituency plays a key part in that. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating all the businesses in Burton and Uttoxeter that won in this year’s Visit Staffordshire tourism awards, including: Uttoxeter racecourse; Denstone Hall farm shop and café; George Lowe and Lowe’s on Carter Street; and the Duncombe Arms in Ellastone?
Sir Alan Campbell
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating everyone in Burton and Uttoxeter on winning the Visit Staffordshire tourism awards. It just goes to show what a fantastic community my hon. Friend represents. I am also advised by my Parliamentary Private Secretary that Staffordshire is a lovely place. I am absolutely sure that the awards to which my hon. Friend refers are well-deserved.
Several hon. Members rose—
Steve Race (Exeter) (Lab)
Last week, I was delighted to welcome £20 million of long-term Pride in Place funding for Heavitree East and Whipton in Exeter. This funding will be transformational for those communities, after years in which they have felt left behind by the last Government. Will the Leader of the House join me in celebrating the most exciting aspect of Pride in Place, which is that it is designed to give residents a full say in how the funding is used in their community, and might there be a debate in Government time on community engagement?
Sir Alan Campbell
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in celebrating receipt of this funding. We have committed £5.8 billion to almost 300 neighbourhoods, and we have begun to set up neighbourhood boards, so that local people can decide for themselves how best to spend the money. He may wish to apply for a Westminster Hall debate on this important programme when we return after the recess.
Emma Foody (Cramlington and Killingworth) (Lab/Co-op)
Recently, residents in Shiremoor and Cramlington have been contacting me about significant delays to post deliveries. Some report letters arriving once every 10 days. This is having a real impact on constituents, and in one case, a delay in receiving post resulted in an interruption of disability living allowance for a child. Given that Royal Mail has stated that there are no widespread issues, what steps can Members take to hold Royal Mail to account, so that I can ensure reliable postal services for my constituents?
Sir Alan Campbell
Last week, a well-attended Westminster Hall debate addressed the declining performance of Royal Mail. It reflected falling confidence among Members of the House, and the increasing anger about service failures, as described by my hon. Friend today. It is clear that there is cross-party support for improving the situation. I hope that Royal Mail hears that message loud and clear, and I will also ensure that my hon. Friend’s concerns are raised directly with the Department, because things need to improve.
Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)
Yesterday’s announcement by the Government of an increase in the number of youth hubs, and the confirmation of the new locations, which include one in my constituency, is such incredible news. Will the Leader of the House join me in welcoming this wonderful news for West Dunbartonshire? It will go a long way towards breaking down barriers to opportunity for the young people of my constituency. Will he also arrange for a statement on this matter after the recess?
Sir Alan Campbell
It is indeed wonderful news. We are working hard to make sure that young people are supported. Youth Futures hubs will bring together services for young people, so that they can access opportunities and get the support that they need in their local communities. The national youth strategy is about empowering young people. It was written by, effectively, young people, and it puts them in the driving seat when it comes to designing local youth services. Should my hon. Friend seek a Westminster Hall debate on the subject, I am sure that other colleagues would want to take part and praise what is happening in their area.
Euan Stainbank (Falkirk) (Lab)
Heritage is devolved, and the Scottish Government have not yet provided a replacement for the listed places of worship VAT reclaim scheme, causing significant distress and uncertainty for places of worship in my constituency. Angus Robertson has justified this by saying that the UK Government did not inform them that the scheme was ending. It has since been established that they were first informed about the change by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in January 2025; that gave them a year and two budgets to replace the scheme. Instead, in their most recent budget, they cut Historic Environment Scotland’s funding. Can we have a statement on the subject after the recess from a DCMS Minister, so that Scottish Members from across the House who have raised this matter during business questions can call on the SNP to drop the political posturing and deliver a scheme for Scottish places of worship?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is a regular attendee of business questions, and I know that many share his appreciation of the importance of places of worship in communities. The reality is that we gave the Scottish Government the largest funding settlement since devolution began, and we gave them notice of what we were going to do, so he is absolutely right: the SNP needs to stop posturing on these matters, stop the political point scoring, and get on and deliver.
Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)
My constituents have been let down by poor bus services in Leeds South West and Morley for too long, so I am delighted that all buses in Leeds will be brought back under public control next year. Will the Leader of the House join me in encouraging my residents to complete my better buses survey, so that we can make sure that the Weaver Network actually works for us, and will he grant a debate in Government time on the importance of publicly controlled bus networks?
Sir Alan Campbell
Our Bus Services Act 2025 is letting local leaders in communities like my hon. Friend’s take back control of services. I join him in encouraging his constituents to complete his survey and make sure that their voices are heard. I also recommend that he applies for what I am sure will be a popular Westminster Hall debate.
Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)
There are 461 looked-after children in Telford and the Wrekin, and I want to see every one of them given the care, support and opportunities that they need to thrive. I am grateful to the organisations large and small, and the residents across Telford, who have helped me in my efforts to deliver an Easter egg to every looked-after child in Telford. They include Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Housing Plus Group, Sophie’s Sweetcheeks, Dawley Social Club, the Outpost and many more. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking these organisations, wish every child in care across our country a happy Easter, and grant Government time for a debate on corporate parenting?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend describes how strong his local community is; people there are coming together to make sure that looked-after children get the support that they need. That is certainly the hope and intention of this Government. I thank everybody involved in those efforts, and I wish them a happy Easter. When we return, I will certainly give consideration to my hon. Friend’s request.
Lewis Atkinson (Sunderland Central) (Lab)
Sunderland is a happier place than Mar-a-Lago at the moment. Perhaps that is why the leader of Reform UK, the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage), is visiting today, having called on the UK to do all we can to support the US and Israel’s war on Iran. But I am here to stand up for Sunderland, not for Donald Trump, so can I impress on the Leader of the House that my constituents do not want to be drawn into a war that is not our own, and that they are concerned about rising petrol prices? Will he make ample time after the recess for these views to continue to be heard, and will he ensure that the Government continue to make decisions solely in the British national interest?
Sir Alan Campbell
What a contrast—from celebrations after the local derby last Sunday, to the approaching dark cloud of the arrival of the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage). I thank my hon. Friend for raising concerns on behalf of his community. We are responding to the crisis in the middle east with the calm, level-headed leadership that the situation demands. We are entirely focused on our national interests. That is in stark contrast to Reform, which does not know, from one day to the next, what the national interest actually looks like. I know that the good people of Sunderland have a strong sense of community, and the good sense to reject policies of division.
Alex Mayer (Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard) (Lab)
The clocks change this weekend, and at a stroke we will have light in the evenings. We could have light at evenings all year round if we adopted Churchill time; it would also cut bills, reduce road traffic accidents and boost the hospitality industry. Given that this is a cross-departmental issue, how can I best get traction on this, so that we can be the Labour Government who really light up everybody’s lives?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for her question, but I am afraid I have to disappoint her. The Government believe that the current daylight saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK, so there are no plans to introduce double summer time or any such changes.
Matt Turmaine (Watford) (Lab)
The Government are committed to effective cross-departmental working, yet my constituent Suzi has had tremendous problems getting different agencies to work together simply to get an effective wheelchair delivered to her home. Does the Leader of the House agree that cross-agency working needs to improve, and will he arrange for a statement to be delivered to the House on the progress that the Government are making?
Sir Alan Campbell
First, let me express my sympathies for Suzi. We talk about many issues in this place, and it is easy to forget sometimes the impact on people’s lives in our constituencies. I agree with my hon. Friend that cross-departmental working is important. If he provides me with the case details, I will ensure that he gets a response from the relevant Minister.
Adam Thompson (Erewash) (Lab)
Long Eaton Town Deal Board has been accelerating towards delivery of so many projects—a new events field, a new office space, a pair of beautiful bridges across the Erewash canal, and a stunning rebuild of our town centre. So many have contributed, but none more so than our board chair, local business leader and proud champion of Long Eaton Richard Ledger. Last week, Richard was awarded the freedom of the borough of Erewash for his immeasurable service to our patch. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating him on this award, and will he consider granting time to discuss the importance of such awards for our communities?
Sir Alan Campbell
I absolutely join my hon. Friend on congratulating Richard Ledger and the successes of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board. As he knows, through our Pride in Place programme, we are helping communities to take back control. This goes to show what can happen when communities are in the driving seat, have the resources that they need, and have fantastic individuals like Richard Ledger, who can make best use of the resources and show leadership on these matters. Should he wish to apply for an Adjournment debate on the subject, I am sure that he and other Members could use it to speak about the good things that are happening in many of our constituencies.
Jodie Gosling (Nuneaton) (Lab)
Residents in Vernons Mews in Nuneaton, managed by Marston management company, are facing homelessness for the third time following a prohibition order that was first issued in August 2025 by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service. For months, I have been working cross-agency to tackle myriad issues, yet a temporary fire system installed back in August 2025, which the fire safety crew deemed inappropriate for the residential building that it is in, is still in place and there are no permanent solutions. May I join the call for Government time to be given to the issues of tenancy management companies, and will my right hon. Friend please update me on what further steps can be taken to address these failures?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is right to raise that concern. As she points out, similar concerns were raised earlier. I am sorry to hear of the issues faced by her constituents and I understand her frustration. We are committed to strengthening the regulation of managing agents to drive the standard of their service. I will make sure that Ministers are aware of the case. I hope that they will be able to provide her with an update on our plans, but I have also listened to her call and that of others for time to hear further about these matters.