Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Florence Eshalomi

Monday 13th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I agree with the shadow Leader of the House about the tragedy of Ann Widdecombe and I echo his words.

I do not agree with the right hon. Gentleman’s description of the run-up to this change of business and the fact that the Bill will come before us tomorrow. This is an important Bill and we have been signalling for some time that it is coming—as he knows, because we have had a dialogue about it. But only today have I been able to confirm it, as this has been the earliest opportunity, Mr Speaker. The right hon. Gentleman talks about amendments. A number of amendments to the Bill have been laid for a long time. The Government have brought forward further amendments and they are in the Vote Office. I regret that there is not a greater length of time for colleagues to scrutinise them, but they are available and I am sure there will be a way of facilitating a full debate tomorrow.

There has been no abbreviation of the process—it is a sitting programme motion, as was agreed by the House after Second Reading. I want to assure the House that, as will no doubt come out in the debate, the agencies and the families have been central to the process, and that is why we have taken time to get it right. That is why it has been delayed, but it is an important Bill that colleagues on both sides of the House will want to see before the summer recess. That is what we are facilitating.

[Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green) (Lab/Co-op)]

I thank the Leader of the House for updating us on tomorrow’s business, and for the fact that this really important Bill is coming back to the House, but it does raise questions about the Representation of the People Bill, which has been delayed. This is a big Bill that includes key major reforms: enfranchising so many young people when trust in politics is at an all-time low; and provisions on tightening financial donations—it is fair to say that donations have been in the news for the past few weeks. Will he please ensure that the Bill will come back swiftly after the summer recess?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the Representation of the People Bill is an important Bill. I will announce in due course when it will return to this House, but it will be returning to this House.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Florence Eshalomi

Thursday 4th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Students at Annan academy have set a fantastic example and are right to champion the importance of music. We are topping up the music and dance scheme in England and are publishing a new enrichment framework. I encourage others who have some responsibility for these matters to look at it and see what they can learn and then to apply it themselves. The pupils’ example, following Parliament Week, would be fitting for a contribution to the pre-recess Adjournment debate.

[Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green) (Lab/Co-op)]

As one of the co-chairs of the all-party parliamentary group on HIV, AIDS and sexual health, I thank all Members across the House for joining in to recognise World AIDS Day on Monday and at Prime Minister’s questions on Wednesday. It is important that parliamentarians continue to show that cross-party support in highlighting that HIV is still very real for many people, but that by working together, we can be one of the first countries to end new HIV transmissions by 2030. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the Government on the new HIV action plan, which sets out how we will prevent HIV transmissions, scale up testing and address the stigma that sadly affects many people, including women and black and minority ethnic people? Will he also congratulate the many charities and organisations that are working, often on a shoestring budget, to ensure that this agenda is still firmly on the Government’s mind?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this matter and playing her part in ensuring that this issue is at the forefront of our minds. I also join her in thanking charities and organisations involved in these matters. As I said, the Government have introduced the HIV action plan, which is one of the most ambitious public health goals of our time. We will continue the success of the blood-borne viruses emergency department opt-out testing programme. We will trial HIV testing within the NHS app and improve awareness of HIV prevention for those at risk. As I said, it is important that we tackle the barriers to accessing treatment, such as stigma, discrimination and inequality. Not only are we making that commitment, we are putting investment behind it.