Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 12th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. Delays in responding to complaints are frustrating for the public and for MPs, who want to be able to help their constituents. As we set out in our police reform White Paper, we will work with the Independent Office for Police Conduct to improve the police complaints and misconduct system. I will facilitate a meeting with the Policing Minister, as my hon. Friend requests.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

Last week, my constituents Gillian Greenwell and Craig Turpie from Bathgate’s Turpie & Co visited Parliament and watched business questions from the Gallery. They were visiting London for the Guild of Property Professionals awards, where they won silver in the overall UK award and gold in the Scotland award. As estate agents, they described this place as a period property located in a well-connected, up-and-coming community with views of iconic landmarks. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the team at Turpie & Co, commend them for their contribution to the local economy and wish them well for the future?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will certainly join my hon. Friend in congratulating everyone at Turpie & Co on their success at the Guild of Property Professionals awards, and I thank them for joining us for business questions last week. I hope they enjoyed their visit to Parliament—which, given the R&R report that I mentioned earlier, could perhaps also be described as a fixer-upper.

Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am not sure that the hon. Gentleman is absolutely correct in his analysis of how funding is allocated. Certainly in my local case, the allocation is not actually to the poorest neighbourhoods; it is to neighbourhoods that are poor, and are left behind on certain indices. It is a different way of calculating than might previously have been used.

The hon. Gentleman is right, though, to point out that the Government are putting more investment in through Pride in Place. We will continue to do so, but this is not only about the investment that goes in; it is about putting local people in charge, because it is not just that some communities look like they have been left behind, but that people feel that they have been left behind. The Government obviously wish to see this scheme rolled out further, so I hope that he is more successful in future. I will do everything I can to ensure that we get an opportunity to debate these matters, because we have a good record and a good story to tell, and he will be able to make his concerns known then.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

The yearly Linlithgow marches organised by the Deacons Court is a 16th-century tradition marking the boundaries of the ancient and royal burgh. The marches celebrate civic pride. There are floats, parades, and much merriment from early in the morning. Last year, the court celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special service in December, which was attended by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the Deacons Court, and perhaps join me for a glass and some merriment at this year’s marches?

Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Let me join the hon. Gentleman in thanking Spelthorne Dementia Support for everything it does and commending it on getting a King’s award, which is a big achievement. He will know that the parliamentary year is quite full, but I will certainly give thought to what further we can do to highlight the fantastic achievements of charities across our country.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

Personal protective equipment is all too often based on outdated, non-specific measurements, which disproportionately impacts women, people with disabilities and those with religious requirements. It affects many workers, with asbestos masks that do not fit, a lack of female-fit fire boots, and gloves that are so loose that women are failing basic training drills. Given the Government’s ambitions for major housing, infrastructure and clean energy projects, will the Leader of the House make a statement on new British standard BS 30417 on inclusive PPE and its possible adoption across Government procurement contracts and public sector workplaces?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that really important matter. The Government strongly support the principle of providing inclusive PPE. We stock PPE for a diverse workforce in the health and adult social care sector in preparation for a future pandemic, including in a wide range of sizes, but I will raise these concerns with Ministers. If she would like a meeting with Ministers to raise these matters, I will try to facilitate that.

Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I invite the hon. Gentleman to request an Adjournment debate or a Backbench Business debate, because I think that would illustrate not just how many constituents, but how many of us personally—or our family and friends—have been affected by brain tumours, which can have terrible consequences. The Government are absolutely committed to doing as much as they can in this regard, not least through the 10-year health plan. A debate would be a great opportunity not just to hear about the problem, but to hear about what the Government intend to do about it.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

Churches are the bedrock of our communities and play a particularly strong role at the heart of our villages. St Philomena’s church in Winchburgh has been a centre of spiritual, community and cultural life for 100 years. It celebrated that milestone with a special mass led by Archbishop Leo Cushley on 26 October. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Father Deighan, Father Henderson and Deacon Robertson, as well as the congregation of St Philomena’s, and wish them all the best for the years ahead?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Father Henderson, Deacon Robertson and the venerable parishioners of St Philomena’s church. She is right to point out that places of worship provide a variety of services, often above and beyond the religious purpose—in the strictest sense—that they are there for. They are at the very heart of our local communities. I wish the church well for the next 100 years.

Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 16th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sorry to hear of my hon. Friend’s concern. I understand that the Environment Agency area director for the west midlands, Mr Ian Jones, would be more than happy to meet my hon. Friend and his constituents to take this forward, but I will also ensure that Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are made aware of the situation.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

Whitburn Community Development Trust is at the heart of the town, providing many vital services for local residents including a community fridge and garden. Last Saturday, Charlotte, David and the team hosted their first charity ball, raising more than £7,000 for local projects. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on the benefits of community projects and join me in congratulating the Whitburn team and thanking Ben Murphy and John Devlin, two founding directors who recently stood down after many years of service to the town?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am happy to send my congratulations not just to Ben and John for their many years of service, but to everyone associated with the trust. Community development trusts are really important for local communities; they are, as I have said before, the thread that holds communities together, so I am happy to send my congratulations and wish them well.

Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 11th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly join my hon. Friend in congratulating 6 Towns Radio on its 15th anniversary and community radio right across our country. The Government recognise the importance of community radio and continue to support the sector as part of a diverse media landscape. He may wish to go further than just seeking congratulations for what is happening in his area and consider a Backbench Business debate on the matter, because I am sure that many colleagues would wish to speak in such a debate about their own community radio stations.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

Last Saturday, the Linlithgow Union Canal Society celebrated its 50th anniversary with a flotilla from Winchburgh to Linlithgow, marking five decades of volunteer-led preservation and promotion of Scotland’s inland waterways. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the society and its volunteers on that milestone and wish them all the very best for the next 50 years?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I do not have any canals in my constituency for pretty obvious reasons, but I love them and I think they are fantastic. Local waterways are so important; they do not just link communities but bring them together. I am pleased to offer my congratulations and again point to the fact that community organisations are the absolute backbone of our constituencies and I wish them well going forward.

Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I welcome back the hon. Gentleman after the recess. He has not missed one of my business questions. I noticed that he has spoken the most in Parliament of any Member—apart from me, actually. I now have a new title, which is that I have spoken more than the hon. Member for Strangford—long may that continue. He raises an important issue around the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, and this Government continue to condemn the appalling actions there. We will do all we can to ensure that our views are heard.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

Churches across the country are struggling to manage their estates, with many buildings going up for sale. Last Sunday, I attended a service of union, with the Bo’ness Old Kirk and St Andrew’s parish church uniting to form the new Bo’ness parish church. While there can be sadness at leaving a church behind, there is much hope and faith as the parishioners move forward together. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the congregation and the ministers, wishing them the very best in this new chapter?

[Lucy Powell]

I know how hard it is for people to see churches go in their area and to transition to going to a new church. She raises an important issue, and I will ensure that she gets a response.

Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 19th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

It is really no mystery why the UK leads in the crime writing genre. Leaders like Sir Ian Rankin build on the legacy of many others, including Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. I will certainly join my hon. Friend in celebrating all our crime writers.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

Almost 300 residents in West Lothian, which covers a large part of my constituency, and many others around the country will be affected by the shortage of galantamine capsules, which are used to treat Alzheimer’s. As a result of the shortage, local pharmacies are scrambling for provision, and some patients rely on twice-daily short shelf-life medication, which is more difficult to administer. Given the unique vulnerability of those with Alzheimer’s, will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on the security of our medicine supply chains?

[Lucy Powell]

We are working hard with industry and health leaders to resolve issues with the supply of those capsules. I will ensure that my hon. Friend gets a full update.

Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 15th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

Absolutely. Animal welfare attracts a great deal of interest from Members from across the House, and this Government are committed to introducing the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation, building on our historical reputation on this issue. We have a number of manifesto pledges that we will bring forward this Parliament.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

My constituent Gerry Borge shared with me the story of his father’s and uncle’s service with the Royal Scots in the far east during world war two. Next Tuesday, a memorial will be unveiled in the Zhoushan islands to commemorate the death of over 800 allied servicemen who were captive on the sunken freighter Lisbon Maru, and hundreds of survivors rescued by Chinese fishermen who braved the seas. Gerry will be in attendance, representing his family members who survived. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on remembering those who perished in the tragedy, and the bravery of the rescuers?

[Lucy Powell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that important issue. That tragedy needs to be remembered, and she has made sure that we are remembering it today. I am pleased to hear about the new memorial being unveiled.

Business of the House

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 1st May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

Let me reassure the right hon. Gentleman: there are no differing opinions on this in Government—we are as one. We absolutely want to see a two-state solution, which is the only-long-term political solution for the middle east, and that includes a recognised and safe and secure long-term state of Palestine. As he says, getting to that recognition will not happen overnight and is not totally straightforward. The Government are absolutely committed—it was in our manifesto—to recognising the state of Palestine. I will ensure that Ministers always come to the House, as they have been doing, to update Members on any developments, with proper debates, statements and votes on these matters where necessary.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

Last Saturday, Blackburn United’s 2009 team played in the inspiresport Scottish Youth cup final against Dundee United’s 2009s at Falkirk stadium. The Blackburn team have gone from strength to strength this season, culminating in a fantastic win to bring home the cup. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the whole team on their stunning 2-0 victory and wish them all the best in future competitions?