Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Josh Dean

Thursday 19th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I pay tribute to John and, indeed, his colleagues. I am sorry to hear of the devastating fire, but as my hon. Friend said, firefighters acted heroically to save Glasgow Central station and many of the historic buildings that surround it, and they contained the fire. I join her in paying tribute to John and all the crews at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for their work. I also place on the record my congratulations and thanks to my hon. Friend, whose work on behalf of Ukraine’s children was this week recognised, quite rightly, by the Ukrainian Government.

[Josh Dean (Hertford and Stortford) (Lab)]

I share my residents’ anger that a Thames Water site has reportedly released over 900 hours of sewage into the River Stort, one of our precious local chalk streams, since the start of the year. I have written to Thames Water and the Environment Agency to raise my community’s concerns about the lack of urgency in tackling sewage discharge. Will the Leader of the House join me in calling on Thames Water to take urgent action to protect our precious local chalk streams, and will he help to facilitate a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss this case in more detail?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Government are absolutely committed to cleaning up our waterways and protecting chalk streams. We have passed the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 and introduced the water White Paper, and the new water reform Bill will create the laws that we need to fundamentally change the system. I absolutely join my hon. Friend in calling on the Environment Agency and Thames Water to ensure that action is taken. I hope that they have heard his comments today. Should he seek a meeting with the relevant Minister to talk about these matters further, I will help him to facilitate it.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Josh Dean

Thursday 5th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising an important issue. The use of synthetic drugs is concerning and we are taking action to tackle this challenge. Law enforcement continues to seek new methods to identify these new, concerning types of drugs, but as a former drugs Minister, I remember how difficult these matters are. I note that my hon. Friend has raised her concerns directly with the Home Secretary at oral questions. If she wishes to have a meeting with the drugs Minister to pursue the matter further, I will help her to arrange one.

[Josh Dean (Hertford and Stortford) (Lab)]

Morrisons has resigned from managing the Thorley Park post office, putting the future of an important local centre at risk. I have joined with a cross-party group of local councillors to write to the local Sainsbury’s and encourage it to host the branch, as the Post Office can only keep the branch open if local retailers come forward to take it on. Will the Leader of the House join me in encouraging Sainsbury’s, local retailers and entrepreneurs to take on this important local service?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in recognising the essential role that post offices play in communities across the country, and the important role that Morrisons and other retailers play in ensuring that services continue. We have set out, in our post office Green Paper, our views on what should happen in the next few years, but I hope that local retailers who are able to help in this situation have heard my hon. Friend’s voice today. I hope there can be a resolution in this case.