Commons Chamber

Thursday 5th February 2026

(began 2 hours, 56 minutes ago)

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None Portrait Oral questions: Attorney General’s Office
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Speaker. >> Question number one. Did you take her?
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None Portrait Q1. What steps she is taking to increase prosecution rates for grooming gang perpetrators. (907702)
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>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government remains absolutely committed to stamping out the
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Ellie Reeves Portrait Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, The Solicitor-General (Lewisham West and East Dulwich, Labour)
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Solicitor general. >> May I start by congratulating my hon. Friend on receiving the Order of Merit from President Zelensky for her tireless campaigning for the children of Ukraine. I know she and I share a number of priorities, and I am proud to sit on the benches alongside her. Mr. speaker, for too long, victims of grooming gangs and serious sexual assault have not been heard. That is why last week I announced the expansion of the victims right to review pilot, which will ensure victims have a second chance for justice with a second prosecutor reviewing a case before it's dropped by the CPS.

This expansion has been driven

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by victims like Jade blue, and I want to pay tribute to her campaigning in this area. Patricia Ferguson.

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Question number. Two, please, Mr. Speaker.

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Solicitor. FGM is an abhorrent practice and

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FGM is an abhorrent practice and I am determined to see more prosecutions. Earlier this week, I prosecutions. Earlier this week, I spoke at the CPS second national multi-agency conference on Honour based Abuse. I was privileged to have survivors share their stories with me, and was moved by their bravery and advocacy for others. I agree with them that we urgently need to improve the criminal justice response to these cases. In December last year, I attended the first national honour based scrutiny panel hosted by the CPS and will continue to work closely with them on this Patricia Ferguson.
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None Portrait Q3. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the work of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate. (907704)
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>> Mr. gentleman. >> This government is determined to make the UK a hostile environment
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None Portrait Q5. What steps she is taking to increase prosecution rates for human trafficking. (907706)
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>> Last April, the government published a modern Slavery Action plan to reinforce our commitment to working across government and with
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Alan Campbell Portrait Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)
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a motion on increasing survival rates of brain tumours. The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee. Tuesday the 10th of February debate on motion to approve the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2026 and the draft Social Security Benefits Up. Rating Order 2026, followed by debate on motion to approve the draft Child motion to approve the draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Uprating Order 2026 and the draft Social Security contributions, rate limits and threshold amendments.

National insurance funds payments and Extensions of Veterans Relief Regulations 2026 Wednesday the 11th of February. Motions relating to the police grant and local government finance reports. Thursday, the 12th of February a general debate on LGBT History Month, followed by a debate on a motion on mobile connectivity in rural areas. The subject for these debates, determined by the Backbench Business Committee. The House will then rise for the February recess at the conclusion of business on Thursday, the 12th of February, and return on Monday the 23rd of February.

The provisional business for the week commencing 23rd February includes Monday, the 23rd of February. Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the Industry and Exports Financial Assistance Bill, followed by Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the Universal Credit. Removal of two child limit bill. Tuesday, the 24th of February, an Opposition Day debate on a motion in the name of the Liberal Democrats. Subject to be announced. And Mr. Speaker, for the convenience of the House, the debate on estimates are expected to take place in the week commencing the 2nd of March.
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Jesse Norman Portrait Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP (Hereford and South Herefordshire, Conservative)
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Jesse Norman, thank you very >> Jesse Norman, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I do not think this is a moment for normal this is a moment for normal business, and so I'm sure that the whole house will join me in you, Mr. Speaker, and the leader, in taking this moment to remember the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, the young women and girls who were systematically trafficked and abused by him and his associates over many years, both those who have come forward and those who have not felt able to do that.

Mr. speaker. Today I'm going to talk about Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein. I have no doubt that the leader and colleagues across this chamber feel the same way that I do. He and they will understand that this is a matter that far transcends party politics. Peter Mandelson, as business secretary, advised Jeffrey Epstein that Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan, should, quote mildly threaten the Chancellor of the time, Alistair Darling, his colleague, over the planned tax on bankers bonuses.

As Jamie Dimon, still the chief executive of JP Morgan, duly did, Mandelson forwarded market sensitive information to Epstein, which related to the 2009 sale of up to £20 billion in state assets. Describing the internal Downing Street memo internal, I should add internal Downing Street memo as an interesting note that's gone to the PM. Mandelson gave Epstein advance notice of the 2010 EU 500 billion bailout the night before the official announcement, and he warned him in advance of the departure of Gordon Brown from ten Downing Street, a further highly market sensitive piece of information in Florida.

Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 under a state plea bargain on two sample felony counts solicitation of prostitution from a minor, procurement of a minor for prostitution. The Prime Minister was specifically asked at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday if he knew that Mandelson had continued his friendship with Epstein after the conviction. He said and I quote when we drafted humble addresses in opposition, we always included an exemption for national security. Unfortunately, this is plainly untrue. It must be inadvertent.

When the Labour Party presented its humble address for impact assessments on Brexit to be released on the 1st of November 2017, that address did not mention national security at all. The second name on that motion was the name of the Prime Minister. So I hope the leader will encourage the Prime Minister to correct the record on this point. In his next appearance at the despatch box, the Prime Minister also said yesterday, and I quote, we went through a process. There was a due diligence exercise and then there was security vetting by the security services.

What was not known was the sheer depth and the extent of the relationship Mandelson had, and Mandelson the relationship. Mandelson lied about that to everyone for years. Let's think about that again for a moment, Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister saying that if only he'd known about the depth and the extent of the relationship between Mandelson and Epstein as it continued after 2008, he would have rejected the appointment. It wasn't enough that he knew Mandelson had a continuing relationship with this convicted paedophile and sex trafficker.

He knew it. Indeed, he had had that fact that Mandelson had stayed in Epstein's mansion, reported to him by public sources, and he ignored it. Not only that, the Prime Minister had the public information further confirmed and reinforced by the security vetting, which was done after the appointment, but before Mandelson had signed his contract of employment. That was a further chance for the Prime Minister to reject the appointment and the Prime Minister ignored that too. The Liberal Democrat leader yesterday asked the Prime Minister, can he tell us whether he thought at all about Epstein's victims? There are many dozens, perhaps hundreds, of girls and young women who were trafficked and abused by and through Jeffrey Epstein.

It is clear that the Prime Minister did not consider them at all, or he could not have possibly taken the decision he did. So why did he? Why did he choose Mandelson? Why did he take that decision? He did so because Morgan McSweeney told him to. McSweeney was Mandelson's protege, and McSweeney was paying back his long time mentor and political sponsor for all those good works. With his appointment. This whole episode has done incredible damage to the already fragile nature of trust in politics.

Every Labour Prime Minister since 1997 has given Peter Mandelson a senior job and been betrayed by him. The present Prime Minister will be seen to have had his own reputation destroyed by this scandal. But let us be clear, every member of this House, our entire political system, has been harmed by it and will continue to be so until effective measures are taken to clean it up. So I ask two questions. Can the leader give an undertaking that the documents to be provided to the Intelligence and Security Committee will not be redacted? And in order to reassure the House, can he ask the Cabinet Secretary to review the appointment procedure undertaken in this case, both the public due diligence and the vetting process, and set out in writing why these failed so badly in this case, and how they will be improved.
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Alan Campbell Portrait Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)
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Hear, hear. >> Leader. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I first of all thank the shadow Leader of the House for the way in which he has addressed these matters this morning. He's fully entitled to do so. And in fact, I'd go so far as to say he's right to do so, because I agree with him that the there is palpable anger, there is outrage, and there is a degree of sadness, I have to say, about the way in which these events have unfolded.

And, Mr. Speaker, it's a minor thing, but I will I will do it this morning. What I would normally do in these occasions is run through a whole series of events that may have happened, and I'm going to reverse the order today. I'm going to deal directly with the shadow Leader of the House first and his remarks, because they're so important. And then with the with the forgiveness of and leave from you, Mr. speaker, I will make some other remarks about other matters. He raises some very important points indeed.

So let me address them. He talks about the humble address yesterday and the remarks of the Prime Minister. I think there's an assumption with humble addresses, and I've drafted a few in my time that that national security matters will be exempted from these anyway. But as I think we found out yesterday, there is a degree of confusion about that. What I am grateful for us was that as the debate continued yesterday and we did listen to the mood of the House and ensured that what was put before the House at the end of the day did reflect what the House was seeking.

So if it was imperfect at the beginning and I would gently say to him, I think his motion to some extent was imperfect to we got to the right place. And I think that was in terrible circumstances, a good moment for the House to make sure that that was what was put before the House and what was voted on. He asks about the actions of the Prime Minister, and that is, Mr. Speaker, going to be part, of course, of the outcome of investigations and inquiries.

And and I think we need to make sure not simply that there's a robust inquiry in place, but that we trust people to get on with it. And he raises the issue of the ISC and the documents that go to the ISC. I expect the ISC to get whatever it asks for in the form that it asks for it, and it may have been missed yesterday, but the National Security Act actually says that the ISC can ask for documents and I hope we don't get to this situation.

But if it doesn't get them, they end up in court with a judge making judgements about these matters. So I wouldn't recommend anybody trying to overreact or to leave out documents, because I think we're in a situation where everything, however painful it's going to be, everything needs to be out in that situation, needs to be out in that situation. Well, what can I also say, Mr. Speaker, that I think it's important that I put on record here the actions that have been taken since these matters, these further matters came to light.

The Prime Minister and let me say, and I should have said at the beginning, but I'm going to say it at this point. Again, I absolutely agree with the shadow Leader of the House about not just how awful this is, but we should never forget that it's the victim, the victims of Epstein, that we should have at the forefront of our deliberations. They are brave, and we we need to make sure that we rise to the challenge of making sure that they get some kind of justice.

At the end of it all, the Prime Minister has made it absolutely clear that Peter Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords, and although he has retired himself, we will be bringing forward legislation to strip Mandelson of his title. And the Prime Minister has agreed with, and should I point out, Mr. Speaker, as ever in these matters, it's slightly more difficult to achieve that than it is for me to say it from the Dispatch Box, but also that the King has.

The Prime Minister has agreed with the King that the former Lord Mandelson should be removed from the. The Privy Council at the matter has been referred to the Metropolitan Police. They have said that the request that they be allowed to get on with their job, and I would absolutely endorse that. And then what we had yesterday over this week, Mr. Speaker, was a statement from this Dispatch Box about this matter. Prime Minister's Questions was rightly dominated by these matters.

And then yesterday, the not extraordinary but the unusual circumstances of six hours of debate on these matters and therefore giving opportunity to members to actually have their say. So we have listened to and we are listening, Mr. Speaker, to the House and indeed to the the country more widely to ensure that we get to the right place on this in what is an absolute tragedy, not just for the victims, but actually for the political process itself. So I hope that I've I've made that position clear.

Let me then return briefly, Mr. Speaker, to some other points that I wanted to make. The first is I'd like to pay tribute to Lord Triesman, who was a former general secretary of the Labour Party and as the former chairman of the FA, he campaigned against racism in sport and was a vocal supporter of women's football. I'm sure the whole House will join with me in sending condolences to his friends and family. I'd also like to pay tribute to Lord Wallace, who also died this week.

He was an ever present in Scottish politics for more than for almost four decades, a leading architect of devolution and a tireless advocate for his constituency of Orkney for over 30 years. And we remember him with with fondness and again send condolences to his friends and his family. I also want to pay tribute, Mr. Speaker, to the campaigning. And Daniel die, who has died after a long battle with cancer. I met Nathaniel die. He was a brave and courageous campaigner whose life ended too soon.

His family and friends should be proud, even in their grief, that his campaign made a real difference to the future well-being of others. And yesterday, Mr. Speaker, was National Cancer Day, and we published our national Cancer Plan. It owes much to healthcare professionals, but it also owes much to ordinary people. Extraordinary people actually, like Nathaniel Die, who told their stories and the stories of their friends and their families. And the plan does outline how thousands of people will receive more timely treatment.

And the Minister for Public Health and Prevention will make a state a statement shortly on other matters. Mr. speaker, we've announced the roll out of 500 new free breakfast clubs in schools across the country, which will mean a free breakfast club now operating in 1250 schools and available for 300,000 children. And today is time to talk. Time to talk today, an opportunity to break through the stigma that often comes with having conversations about mental health experiences. And this comes ahead of Children's Mental Health Week next week.

Children's mental health is crucial for fostering positive life outcomes, and I know there will be lots of activities in constituencies across the country to raise awareness. And finally, Mr. Speaker, members will also note with interest, I hope that Parliament's restoration and renewal costed Proposals report will be published by the House this afternoon. The Palace of Westminster is part of a Unesco World Heritage Site, and it's also as a symbol of our democracy. It is in much need of significant work to maintain the upkeep of the building and to make it safe for people who work here and also visit here.

And I hope that members will take time to read the detailed report. And in due course, we will be bringing forward the matter for debate and decision, not just by this House, but by the other place too. Thank you, Mr. Amanda Hack.
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Amanda Hack Portrait Amanda Hack MP (North West Leicestershire, Labour)
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Thank you. driving instructors who provide tuition to learner drivers in North West Leicestershire, and one of them reached out to me earlier this them reached out to me earlier this week to share. They got up at 5:45 a.m. to book a test for a student in Loughborough, but there weren't any tests available. What work has been done to increase capacity and key test centres that serve my constituency, like Loughborough? And can we have a debate in government time on holding drive

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test centres to account for some of these supply issues? Yeah. Mr. speaker, I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this important Friend for bringing this important matter to the House. Is not the first time that we've heard of these concerns. And I do look forward to a business questions forward to a business questions when they're not raised, because it means that serious action has been taken and the situation is taken and the situation is improving. I completely sympathise with those impacted by a long wait for tests.

The government is for tests. The government is bringing is taking action to deliver about around 10,000 additional driving tests a month, and we will ensure only learner drivers can book tests and stop the exploitation by online bots. But I will make sure that my hon. Friend has words and concerns are heard by the relevant Minister, who I'm sure will want to correspond with it. Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
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Bobby Dean Portrait Bobby Dean MP (Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat)
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made by the conservative Leader of the House about Jeffrey Epstein and his relationship with Peter Mandelson. And I do not intend to repeat his words, but I do think it's necessary to say that, as the political discussion around this political discussion around this will intensify in the coming days, we mustn't forget the victims at the centre of all this and their bravery, not only in retelling their trauma, but taking the risk their trauma, but taking the risk and taking on powerful men, possibly some of the most powerful and connected men on the planet, and all those that serve to protect him and legitimise him in his behaviours.

Dear, here, Mr. Speaker, I also feel duty to raise under-discussed issues in this session and I want to talk about Storm Chandra and the devastating impact it's had on communities, particularly in the south west of England, where flooding has damaged homes and a road collapsed into the sea. Now it's of course difficult to know when these storms will hit, but we do know that they're going to happen more frequently, and this is put more intense scrutiny on the role of the Environment Agency.

And I fear that they have been found lacking. Last year they gave up on Main Rivers maintenance, saying they could no longer afford to do it. And this is just a part of a pattern of the EA not being equipped anymore to do its job. In my own constituency, I can think of at least two major failures in the last couple of years. This time last year, there was a major diesel spill into my local river, the River Wandle, 4000l, suspected to be from a nearby bus garage.

The EA was sent to investigate. One year on, we still do not have their report and nobody has been held to account. We also host an incinerator in our constituency, which we know that if regulated properly, are better than landfill. However, over the last 18 months, there's been hundreds of emissions breaches and the EA has failed to punish the operator sufficiently. In fact, it says that it's minded to approve an expansion in capacity of this incinerator. That's despite strong opposition from myself, the local authority and apparently the government, who have stated publicly that they think we've reached capacity for incineration in England, but still nothing can be done.

And when I challenged the EA about this, they feel that they don't have the legal grounds to object. So I ask the government what is going on? And can the Leader of the House organise a debate to ensure that we can hold the EA properly to account?
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Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)
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Of the backbench. the leaders announced on Monday, the procedure Committee are due to give a statement on their report on give a statement on their report on call lists. As this is not a backbench business day. Apparently this requires a motion from the leader to allow it to take place, and I hope you will enable that to happen on Thursday the 12th of February. There will also be a select Committee statement on behalf of housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee on their recent report.

And indeed on Thursday, the 26th of February, if we are given the date, there will be a debate on Saint David's Day and Welsh affairs. In addition, the business in Westminster Hall next week on Tuesday will be a report on the Independent Water Commission final report. And on Thursday the 12th there will be a select Committee statement on behalf of the EFRA Select Committee, followed by a debate on government support for healthy relationships just in advance of Valentine's Day, and then followed by a debate on Onshoring in the fashion and textiles industry.

On the Tuesday the 24th of February. When we return, there'll be a debate on government support for the healthcare system in Gaza. And on Thursday, the 26th of February, a debate on Eating Disorders Awareness Week, followed by a debate on the impact of VAT on independent faith schools. Mr. speaker, the eagle eyed individuals who follow the Order Paper will know that there's actually no second debate in Westminster Hall this afternoon. I should explain why that is the case. The hon. Member for Wokingham was granted this debate three weeks ago.

The government were given notice that this debate was being held. And apparently on Tuesday, the Public Health Minister informed the hon. Member for Wokingham that she was not available to answer the debate. Now, as you will know, and the leader will know, this is not acceptable for the government to be determining who answers the debate. A Minister or even a health whip could have answered the debate. Unfortunately, we offered because we have to give 48 hours notice to the government of debates.

We offered to five different individuals, but of course they couldn't change their plans for this afternoon. So I'm sure we will want to defend the right of backbenchers to hold the government to account. Now, Mr. Speaker, fly tipping in Harrow has been the scourge of most local residents. I'm pleased that the council has made many steps towards combating this, including fly tips that are reported within 24 hours, bulky waste collection on free basis, multiple trips to the waste recycling centre and CCTV are recycled to hotspots where fly tipping takes place.

But recently we've had the scourge of an illegal waste dump being set up on private land. Harrow Council officers have been through that waste and been able to identify the waste from 40 different individuals who've now been issued with fixed penalty notices for giving their waste to illegal waste collectors. This is a warning to people that they should not be doing so. However, there is a problem across the country now of these illegal waste collectors who are using private land to literally in a criminal action.

So could we have a statement from one of the Ministers on what action the government is going to take to support local authorities in opposing these illegal waste collectors, and warn individuals that they shouldn't be using them?
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Alan Campbell Portrait Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)
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Steve Yemm. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, thank you to the hon. Gentleman for his work and the work of his committee and thank him for the update which he has provided. In answer to his first question on the Procedure Committee report. It does require a motion. I will be bringing forward a motion, even though it's a slightly unusual circumstances. So the answer is yes. On the second point, which he raises about about the cancellation of a debate, let me say that sometimes it is difficult to ensure that there is a Minister available.

There are lots of draws on Ministers time. Not least there might be statements or or whatever, but I am a strong. My strong view is that it's a priority for Ministers and that they should be there. So I'm very sorry to hear of these circumstances. And I agree with the hon. Gentleman and indeed hon. Members who supported the view. It's not acceptable what has happened if people find themselves in that situation before. I can't do anything about it if I'm not fully aware of it.

If any hon. Member or right hon. Member finds themselves in that situation before, and there's any doubt about whether or not there'll be a Minister, if they come and see me, I will ensure that there will be an appropriate Minister. Or, as he points out, in some circumstances, a whip who Ministers to make sure that the debates can go ahead. So I apologise for that, but I ensure that we will do everything we can to make it different, to make it better in the future.

In terms of flytipping, as he said, it's completely unacceptable and a blight on our communities. We are giving councils new powers to crush the vehicles, for example, of suspected fly tippers and bringing in prison sentences of up to five years for those transporting waste illegally. And I am a firm believer that there is a law that it should be a warning. But if that's ignored, then action should be taken. So I'm pleased. If that is the the case, I'll draw his concerns to the attention of Ministers with regard to a possible statement in the future, or he may wish to apply for a debate on these matters.

Mr. speaker, he is uniquely placed to ensure he gets them.

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Could I just say I didn't know about it? I'm very concerned about what's been raised and I thank the what's been raised and I thank the leader for the answer. But I do want to know why I wasn't told about this as well. So I will take

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about this as well. So I will take it up along with Liam Conlon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Leo Barber, from Beckenham, tragically Barber, from Beckenham, tragically took his own life in November 2023, aged just 16, after suffering
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