Business of the House

Dan Aldridge Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As ever, the hon. Gentleman raises a serious issue, and I pay tribute to him for that. The UK Government are committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and I am happy to reassert our steadfast support for the people of Ukraine. I will raise his specific concerns with the Foreign Secretary, but at the end of the day, the way we can resolve this for the Ukrainian people and the faith groups is to end this war. We can then ensure that Ukraine survives as a vibrant country and that Russia does not get any advantage from an illegal war.

[Dan Aldridge (Weston-super-Mare) (Lab)]

This week is the Good Things Foundation’s Get Online Week. Thousands across my constituency and millions across the country still struggle to get online, to stay online and to be safe online. Local community groups run by wonderful people, such as Ivi Paduim-Quan, are so often working on a shoestring to deliver digital skills to those most in need. Will the Leader of the House acknowledge the cross-Parliament and cross-Government responsibility for this problem and, if possible, provide time for more parliamentary debate to keep this topic a priority for the House and to get the resources to the places they need to be?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend raises an important issue. It is good to raise awareness of Get Online Week. We are committed to tackling connectivity issues across the country. Some 88% of UK premises already have gigabit broadband, and we are committed to delivering full nationwide gigabit broadband connectivity by 2030. I understand the frustration of households and communities that cannot benefit from that. I will make sure that the relevant Minister hears his concerns.