Business of the House

Debate between David Baines and Alan Campbell

Thursday 23rd April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I understand the frustration that Members sometimes have when they do not receive full replies or the substantive replies that they seek. If the hon. Lady gives me details of that particular case, I will certainly follow them up. She may also know that the Procedure Committee is undertaking an inquiry into parliamentary questions. The situation is a bit more complicated than it seems, because the number of PQs has gone through the roof and there are all sorts of questions as to why that should be the case. Also, although Members are given the opportunity to ask questions and hold Departments to account, there is a question as to whether the rules that we work to and live by are the right ones for the current situation.

[David Baines (St Helens North) (Lab)]

Happy St George’s day, Madam Deputy Speaker. Alan Clark and a team of volunteers from the CAMRA award-winning pub Haydock Reading Rooms recently completed the West Highland Way, raising thousands of pounds for Clatterbridge hospital and for Ryan Lawrenson, who at just 21 was recently diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Will the Leader of the House join me in wishing Ryan and his family the very best? Does he also agree that Alan and the team’s voluntary work and community effort show the best of Haydock and the best of England?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I want to reciprocate by wishing my hon. Friend a happy St George’s day. He highlights some of the incredible efforts by Alan Clark and other volunteers from his constituency. As I have said many times before, local volunteers are the golden thread that runs through our constituencies, so I will of course join him in wishing Ryan and his family well, and in thanking the team.

Business of the House

Debate between David Baines and Alan Campbell

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Ensuring fairness in supply chains is key for UK dairy farmers, and the Government recognise that. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 improve fairness and transparency, and require dairy contracts to include clear terms on pricing termination and prohibiting unilateral changes. Through our new deal for farmers, we are supporting growth and making the supply chain fairer. My colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will have heard the hon. Lady’s remarks. If she writes to me, I will ensure that she gets the meeting that she seeks.

[David Baines (St Helens North) (Lab)]

Sue and Dave Cook from St Helens have been awarded MBEs for their services to fostering. They have helped to take care of children for over 20 years. In Sue’s words:

“To be able to give back to these children from St Helens who need us—it is an honour. It is a privilege to have them in our home.”

Will the Leader of the House join me in paying tribute to Sue and Dave Cook and to foster carers everywhere? Will he also join me in encouraging anyone in St Helens North who wants to make a difference to a child’s life to get in touch with the council’s fostering team for more information?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend and others for raising the work of Sue and Dave Cook, and I join him in paying tribute to them. They may talk about the remarkable people who they look after, but they are truly remarkable people in the care that they give. We depend on foster carers providing an important role, because they literally change the lives of many children for the better. We want to ensure that carers can provide their vital services, which is why we are putting money behind that, with £44 million to support kinship and foster carers and £25 million to recruit more foster families and support carers. I hope that the calls of my hon. Friend have been heard outside this House and that more people will come forward to do what is such an important job.

Business of the House

Debate between David Baines and Alan Campbell

Tuesday 13th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I commend the hon. Lady for her ingenuity in weaving something entirely unrelated into these matters. This is a statement on a very specific change to business. We have important plans for tomorrow, when there will be a debate on Ukraine. There have been a number of opportunities for hon. Members to ask for that debate, and the Government now have the opportunity to grant it.

[David Baines (St Helens North) (Lab)]

The Hillsborough law has been a long time coming. It has been a journey, and for the families of the victims and survivors, as well as those affected by lots of other tragedies and disasters over the years, it has been too long coming. Will the Leader of the House please assure me and my constituents that this change is about getting it right—I think everyone involved can agree that we need to do that—and not about watering it down in any way?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I agree, and I can absolutely confirm to my hon. Friend that the purpose of the change is to get the Bill right. There is no watering down; it is about getting it right. The only difference is that we need a slightly longer time period to do that, so that when the Bill comes out it commands support and delivers justice for those who have campaigned on these matters for such a long time.