Business of the House

Gavin Williamson Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Ava and the whole of Burradon primary school on winning the competition. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe that last year’s winner was Shiremoor primary school, which used to be in my seat by is now, I am jealous to say, in that of my hon. Friend. I wish them well, too. I also take the opportunity to thank the teachers, teaching assistants and all the hard-working staff in our local schools and across the country, and wish them all a very peaceful but merry Christmas.

[Sir Gavin Williamson (Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge) (Con)]

I have no doubt that you will be very organised and ready for Christmas, Mr Speaker, with all your presents purchased and wrapped. Some of us are not quite like that and will be making panicked purchases around our constituencies this weekend. If people are parking in Penkridge at Boscomoor retail centre or the Quinton Court shopping centre in Great Wyrley, there is a high chance that the parking operator, ParkMaven, will issue tickets on their cars, totally without justification. What more can be done to stop these rogue operators? May we have a statement from the Government?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I hope that the operators have heard the right hon. Gentleman’s words, because this is an issue not just in his constituency, but elsewhere. The Government have attempted to tackle it, and we have done some really good things, but it continues to be an issue in some places. I will write to him after taking it up with the Transport Secretary—I think the Home Secretary will also have some responsibility for these matters—and get back to him.