Business of the House

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am delighted that my hon. Friend has raised the matter of Bradford being the 2025 city of culture—I know this subject is close to your heart, Madam Deputy Speaker—and the fact that it has been a tremendous success. The city of culture programme has historically been a driver of local growth and pride. Next year, we look forward to not only cities of culture, but towns of culture. I am sure there will be an opportunity in the new year for my hon. Friend and others to debate these matters and see what further progress we can make.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish you, all Members and House staff a very merry Christmas and a guid new year, when it comes. I have the honour to represent one of the largest rural constituencies in the United Kingdom, where the ability to drive is essential for many, particularly at Christmas, when we want to get out and see family and friends. May we therefore have a debate in Government time on the operation of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and its associated agencies? Not only are there long delays for driving tests, and not only are rural test centres being overwhelmed by people from outside the area, but we now have significant delays for people with medical conditions who are applying to renew their driving licence.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank the right hon. Member for his question. I agree with him about the importance of being able to drive, particularly in areas like his. The DVLA aims to process all applications as quickly as possible, but he will know from the National Audit Office report on driving tests, published this week, that the situation is far from acceptable, and delays can affect the lives of our constituents. I will therefore ensure that a Minister updates him on the steps that the Department for Transport is taking to ensure that the DVLA’s performance improves.

Christmas Adjournment

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

My constituency is larger than any in England and has over 100 distinct communities, which I could not even list in three minutes, so I intend just to focus on the highlights. I am delighted that the Backbench Business Committee has granted a debate on modernising marriage laws, because Europe’s self-proclaimed marriage capital, Gretna Green, is in my constituency.

In Annan, the main issue for the community remains the replacement of two footbridges swept away during flooding in 2021. There is still no plan to replace them, despite the community’s own efforts to bring forward plans. That is why I hope that project can come under the important Borderlands growth deal, which covers the south of Scotland. It has been a positive force, but, as I said in a recent debate about Scotland, it needs the Government to put a bit more oomph into it.

Two very positive projects are unfolding. One is at Eastriggs, with the potential for a UK munitions factory on the site of HM Gretna, which was a munitions factory during the first world war. That would give a huge boost to not only my constituency but that of the hon. Member for Carlisle (Ms Minns). There is also a plan for a green energy hub on the Chapelcross site. Although I would have preferred to have seen a new nuclear plant on that site, I am happy to support the project.

I can demonstrate that coming to business questions with the Leader of the House has an impact. On one Thursday in October, I called on the Bank of Scotland to sell its branch in Peebles to the Peebles Community Trust, and the very next day it announced that it was doing so. I take that intervention as having been helpful.

The constituency covers not only a large rural area but former mining communities. I was pleased, along with many Government Members, to support constituents in their call to have the British Coal staff superannuation scheme extended to include them—that was one announcement in the Budget that I was able to welcome.

As we approach the Scottish Parliament elections, two Members who overlap with my constituency are standing down. They are Christine Grahame, who has served for 27 years and my son Oliver Mundell, who has served for 10.

Business of the House

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sure that the whole House will join me in extending our deepest sympathies to Emma and her family. I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Emma on her incredible efforts in Brodie’s memory. Every suicide is a tragedy. Through the national youth strategy, we are taking steps to ensure that every young person feels supported.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

The Leader of the House will share my disappointment at the Scottish Government’s illogical and wrong-headed approach to nuclear power, which means that the former Chapelcross site in my constituency cannot be considered for a new nuclear power station. I hope that, like me, he welcomes the announcement from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority that there is to be a strategic partnership with CX Power, with the hope of turning the site into a green energy hub producing hydrogen. While that might not be the nuclear power station that my constituents would wish to have, I hope that it will bring the skilled jobs that the power station did for over 60 years.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I share the right hon. Gentleman’s concern and frustration about the attitudes towards nuclear, because Scotland is well placed to benefit from new nuclear projects. There are millions of pounds-worth of investment, high-quality jobs and apprenticeships, and I certainly welcome what sounds like a fantastic development in his constituency. Should he wish to raise the matter through a Westminster Hall debate, he can test Ministers on what further can be done.

Business of the House

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 4th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sure the whole House will join me in expressing our deepest sympathy on this distressing attack and in wishing the young boy a full and swift recovery from this horrific ordeal. I am not surprised that it has caused such distress to his parents. I will tread carefully and say that I will draw it to the attention of the relevant Minister and make sure that my hon. Friend gets a response.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

I was pleased to welcome pupils from Annan academy in my constituency to Parliament last week and to hear directly from those young people that many of them had actively participated in a consultation by SNP-led Dumfries and Galloway council to voice their opposition to an ill-thought-out proposal to cut free musical instrument tuition in local schools. I am sure the Leader of the House will agree that not only are the Annan pupils right that music tuition should not be only for those who can pay for it, but that they are to be praised for speaking out on an issue that directly affects them and that we should encourage all young people to do the same.

[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.

Business of the House

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising awareness of the work of Arnold u3a and Hazel Ward. Loneliness can have real consequences for individual health across our communities. The Government are committed to building on the work of our friend Jo Cox in supporting people to build the social connections they need. I am sure that many people across the House would support such a Backbench Business debate, should my hon. Friend request one.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

Kelloholm is a former mining community in my constituency. Like the rest of Upper Nithsdale, it has few amenities, so it came as a complete shock to local people when, out of the blue, SNP-led Dumfries and Galloway council suggested closing the Hillview leisure centre as a possible budget-saving measure, despite the centre’s pivotal role in the community for youth work, employment support programmes, children’s parties and other social events, as well as gym, sport and recreation uses. Will the Leader of the House join me in calling on the council to abandon this knee-jerk and ill-considered proposal, which would do real damage in and around Kelloholm, and will he spend more time calling out the Scottish Government’s deliberate policy of starving local authorities of the resources they need?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am not sure it will do the right hon. Gentleman much good, but I find myself agreeing with him on most Thursdays. I thank him for his question. Of course, it is a matter for the local authority, but he has highlighted in his assiduous way the concerns of his constituents. The SNP Government have received a record funding settlement, and I agree it is such a shame to see vital assets underfunded and, therefore, under threat.

Business of the House

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 16th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman to his post, and my athletic constituency neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (John Lamont), to his.

Today at 2 pm there will be a protest in Moffat by campaigners who are making a last-ditch attempt to save the local Bank of Scotland branch, and I commend them for their efforts. It is one of five branches to be closed in my constituency this year. Does the Leader of the House agree with me that, if banks cannot be persuaded not to abandon the high street, they should at the very least ensure that their premises are provided for community use? Therefore, in the case of the Peebles branch, does he also agree that the bank should look favourably on the offer from the Peebles Community Trust for that branch?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I do agree with the right hon. Member, because in-person banking is important to our local communities. In fact, I have a hub opening in Whitley Bay in my constituency in about 10 days’ time. I understand that is cold comfort for the people of Moffat, but we are seeing banking hubs rolled out across the country. I think banks have such a responsibility, and the best banks actually look at their responsibility to continue to have a branch presence. Should they not, I think they have an obligation to work with others to ensure that there is access to banking. I would also say that the Scottish Government have their own community right to buy policy, which he may wish to look at as part of any campaign for the purchase of a community hub. Next week in Westminster Hall there is a debate on financial inclusion in which he may wish to amplify his point.

Business of the House

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

The Parkrun and junior Parkrun initiatives are fantastic at engaging people in daily activity to keep them healthy and at bringing them together, tackling other issues such as loneliness. I join my hon. Friend in thanking all the organisers for their involvement.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

Will the Leader of the House join me in recognising Gretna Green in my constituency as not just the wedding capital of the UK, but the wedding capital of Europe? It is particularly popular with couples from the north-west, and obviously, any MP who is still looking to be wed would be made most welcome there. However, many of the rules and regulations around civil ceremonies are arcane and bureaucratic. While there must always be proper checks, surely simplicity, spontaneity, innovation and joy must also be important. As such, will the Leader of the House bring forward a debate on modernising marriage laws?

[Lucy Powell]

I am not sure whether any of the couples I mentioned at the beginning of this questions session got married in Gretna Green—maybe they can declare it if they did—but we are all of course very familiar with it as the iconic place for weddings in this country. The right hon. Gentleman makes an important point about simplifying some of the bureaucracy and making sure we remember what marriage is all about. I will get in touch with the relevant Minister on his behalf and see what we can do.

Business of the House

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 10th July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I join my hon. Friend in saying what great news it is that we are finally, after many hundreds of years, going to see the exhibition of the Bayeux tapestry in this country. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who is one of the champions in the House for her area; 1066 Country is very close to my heart, having holidayed there for many years as a child. I know how important the exhibition will be to her area and the young people there. I am sure, as she says, that this exhibition of a generation will bring renewed interest in Hastings, Battle and the surrounding areas, so I join my hon. Friend in her call for young people to get access to it.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

I sincerely thank the Leader of the House for announcing that there will be a debate on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. It confirms how worth while it is to come to business questions and make the case for a debate.

I am sure the Leader of the House will join me in congratulating British players on a record-breaking start to the first week of Wimbledon, particularly Cam Norrie on his great effort in reaching the men’s quarter-finals. Sadly, many British players have spoken out about the abuse that they have been facing online, including Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage, and a Women’s Tennis Association and International Tennis Federation report found that 40% of those trolling players were dissatisfied gamblers. Can we have a debate in Government time about what we can do to prevent this sort of unacceptable abuse, not just of tennis players but of all those in public life?

[Lucy Powell]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for being such a regular attendee of business questions. I can confirm that it was because of his representations in these sessions that I got the idea of having a VJ Day debate before we break up for the recess. As he says, the VE Day debate was very oversubscribed, so I hope that in the upcoming debate we can look at the very specific lessons of VJ Day too.

The right hon. Gentleman raises a really important matter. I join him in congratulating Cam Norrie and all the British players on their progression at Wimbledon. The online abuse that they and many others in public life have suffered is unacceptable, it is disgraceful and it needs to stop. The Online Safety Act 2023 is an important first step, but we need to go further. The big tech platforms need to step up and put an end to this kind of abuse on social media, where it flourishes, because it is not acceptable and it needs to end.

Business of the House

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 3rd July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am sorry to hear about Katherine’s case and I shall certainly raise it with Ministers. My hon. Friend raises a broader point that needs addressing.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

Will the Leader of the House ensure that before the summer recess there is either a statement or a debate in Government time on Sudan? She will know that it is the worst humanitarian crisis ongoing in the world: tens of thousands of people killed, millions displaced and millions facing hunger every day, particularly in the Darfur region. It is stated to be the Government’s No. 1 foreign policy priority beyond Gaza and Ukraine, and of course the UK is the penholder at the United Nations. It is vital that the issue is urgently debated in this House.

[Lucy Powell]

The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. The Government recognise that the situation in Sudan at the moment is one of the worst in the world, which is why we are providing so much aid to Sudan. We have announced lifesaving funding for over 650,000 Sudanese people and the Foreign Secretary was keen to make Sudan one of his first visits when he came into office. The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that we have updated the House a number of times through statements, but I take on board what he says and I will ensure that hon. Members are kept updated as things go forward.

Business of the House

David Mundell Excerpts

Thursday 5th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am really sorry to hear about the case that my hon. Friend identifies. I think the banking Minister will shortly be in the House for a debate this afternoon, but I will ensure that he gets a full update.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

Will the Leader of the House bring forward a specific debate that focuses on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day and the end of the war in the far east, so that the horrific conditions in which those, for example, in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers had to fight and the conditions that people faced as prisoners of war can be properly recognised? We had a debate on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, but—as in 1945—the end of the war in Europe overshadowed those events in the far east.