Business of the House

Elsie Blundell Excerpts

Thursday 26th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I hope that Bradford council has heard the hon. Gentleman’s concerns, which will obviously be shared by his residents. I invite him to apply for an Adjournment debate to raise not just this specific issue, but the wider issue of utility works going forward.

[Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)]

The majority of businesses on our high streets add great value to our communities, but there are some where criminality takes place, and that is putting people off visiting their local town centres. Where premises are host to illegal activity, councils can issue closure orders prohibiting access, but those orders can only be made for a maximum of three months before dodgy businesses are allowed to open and operate again. Would the Leader of the House consider a debate in Government time on how we can ensure that local authorities have additional means, set out in statute, to bear down on illicit activity that really harms our high streets?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. We are committed to reviving our high streets. The Home Office is in the process of establishing a cross-departmental taskforce to develop a strategic, long-term policy response to things like money laundering and illegality to ensure that our high streets are fit for purpose. I will make sure that Ministers have heard her concerns and that when the taskforce begins its work, she gets regular updates.