Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 9th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

There will be no immediate changes to how people watch TV; terrestrial TV will stay until at least 2034. However, as the right hon. Gentleman and the House know, TV is increasingly moving online. We recognise the particular challenges in remote and rural areas, particularly for older people, people with disabilities and others who might spend more time watching TV. I want to emphasise that we want to ensure that the transition is managed responsibly and that no one is left behind, which is why we are consulting on two dates for the switchover, with either date contingent on a full and watertight transition plan. I will ensure that Ministers hear of his concerns.

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

I had the pleasure of watching England versus DR Congo with some of the good folks at the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting. Thankfully, the England men’s team have not taken the title of the campaign too literally, and are still on the hunt to bring at least one trophy home this summer. There should be only one trophy, though, because this party has pledged to end the import of trophies acquired through hunting. Will the Leader of the House arrange for a statement from the relevant Minister to update us on progress in this area, so that we can finally end this barbaric practice?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for his work on this important issue—I know that he joined campaigners in taking the campaign to No. 10 last year. As he will know, the Government remain committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. I am not sure whether this matter was raised at DEFRA questions this morning, but I will certainly ensure that Ministers hear of his concerns.

Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 25th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

That matter was raised earlier, and I understand Members’ concerns. Let me take this away and see if we can get the assurance that the right hon. Gentleman and others are seeking.

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

As a member of the armed forces parliamentary scheme, I have seen at first hand the courage and dedication that our service personnel show each and every day, and, as this is Armed Forces Week, I want to commend them for it. One of my constituents is a newly attested Army reservist. He is proud to serve our country but his experience shows some of the barriers faced in training. It took nearly a year to train, but, crucially, he had to spend nearly £1,000 on travel, equipment and medical appointments. Unfortunately, that barrier resulted in many other dedicated applicants dropping out. On his behalf, will the Leader of the House grant a debate on the need to support the recruitment and training of our Army reservists?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is right to raise this matter during Armed Forces Week. Reservists are an integral part of the effectiveness of our armed forces. They bring experience from defence, strengthen resilience and provide specialist skills that cannot be generated or sustained in regular forces alone. I encourage him to seek a Westminster Hall or Adjournment debate, so that he can make his strong case in greater detail.

Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 18th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Lady will know that the Government are seeking to balance the moneys that the Government need to renew public services while ensuring that businesses are treated fairly. I will raise her concerns directly with Treasury Ministers and get her an update on what further action the Government intend to take. We want community businesses and facilities to be retained wherever possible.

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

Local businesses are the backbone of our high streets, and on that basis I congratulate Souvlaki Corner on its hugely successful opening in Morley this week, following its rip-roaring success in Wortley; should you find yourself in our part of the world, Mr Speaker, you and the Leader of the House are welcome to join me there any time. Given that this Government are backing our high streets with £10 million for high street rental auctions to get empty shops filled, can we have a debate on this and the other things we can do to help genuine local businesses?

Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 11th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is right to bring this matter to the House today. It often takes tremendous courage for victims of domestic abuse to seek help. She is an assiduous campaigner for the implementation of a formal domestic abuse policy for all Parliament offices, and I certainly join her in that regard. She may wish to raise this specific matter with the Members’ services team, who provide Members’ offices with best practice safeguarding advice.

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

Growing numbers of my constituents have been contacting me about e-bikes and e-scooters. They know the law, and they know it is not being enforced on pavements, in parks or in public spaces. There is clearly a need for a debate on this matter. Will the Leader of the House grant a debate not just on the state of the law on e-bikes and e-scooters, but on whether the police have the resources they need to enforce it?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to champion these concerns on behalf of his constituents. The police do have a number of powers to seize e-scooters and e-bikes that are being used illegally or antisocially. We will be consulting further shortly and are committed to pursuing legislative reform in due course. As my hon. Friend points out, it is a question of not just having the legislation but using that legislation. Were he to seek a Westminster Hall or Adjournment debate, he could put his frustration and concerns directly to the relevant Minister.

Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 23rd April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in recognising Warwickshire day. As I have said previously, community volunteers and events like the one she describes are at the heart of making our local communities the fantastic places they are. This sounds like a great way to celebrate St George’s day. Should she seek a Westminster Hall debate on the issues she raises, then I hope she is successful. If not, then I will give consideration to her request for a debate in Government time.

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

One of my constituents was diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently received universal credit and incapacity benefit, but the DWP then stopped these payments due to some confusion over a critical illness cover policy. The facts around it were incorrect. Despite her best efforts and despite my team’s recent best efforts, we have been unable to get a hearing from a DWP caseworker for a mandatory reconsideration claim. That was over six months ago. In the meantime, she has now discovered that her cancer is terminal. Please can we have a debate in Government time on DWP delays and their impact on the critically ill?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sorry to hear about the case that my hon. Friend raises. It must be a very difficult time for his constituent and her family. I am sure that I speak for the whole House when I extend my deepest sympathies and best wishes to her. If my hon. Friend would like to give me the details after Question Time, I will ensure that he gets a response from the relevant Minister.

Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 26th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

My constituents have been let down by poor bus services in Leeds South West and Morley for too long, so I am delighted that all buses in Leeds will be brought back under public control next year. Will the Leader of the House join me in encouraging my residents to complete my better buses survey, so that we can make sure that the Weaver Network actually works for us, and will he grant a debate in Government time on the importance of publicly controlled bus networks?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Our Bus Services Act 2025 is letting local leaders in communities like my hon. Friend’s take back control of services. I join him in encouraging his constituents to complete his survey and make sure that their voices are heard. I also recommend that he applies for what I am sure will be a popular Westminster Hall debate.

Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 12th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is a doughty campaigner for his constituents, and I am genuinely sorry to hear of the case that he raises. He understands that road closures can greatly impact local communities and businesses, particularly in rural areas. I know that he has raised this matter with the Department for Transport, and I will ensure that he gets a response.

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

On Tuesday, I joined civic leaders in Leeds, and Leeds United football club, in celebrating the £650 million expansion of Elland Road stadium. It will bring enormous benefits to my part of Leeds, including jobs and opportunities. It will also ensure that those of us who have been on the season ticket waiting list for years can finally buy a ticket. Much more importantly, parallel to that project is the West Yorkshire mass transit project, which has the potential to amplify and extend those benefits to all the people of Leeds. Will the Leader of the House grant an urgent debate in Government time on ensuring that the Leeds, Bradford and West Yorkshire tram, including stations in my constituency and others, is delivered ahead of schedule and on budget, so that all the people of Leeds can benefit from this investment?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As my hon. Friend points out, sport is an important part of the economy for our local communities, and that is why there is a commitment to such investment. This Government are committed to improving transport in the north. The Transport Secretary is working closely with the West Yorkshire Mayor to ensure that we deliver a mass-transport system. Should my hon. Friend seek a Westminster Hall debate on the subject, I am sure that colleagues from his region would join him in doing so. If he seeks a meeting with a Minister, I will facilitate that.

Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

First, I wish the hon. Gentleman a happy new year, and I thank him for raising such an important question, as he always does. We do share his concern about the suppression of human rights in Nicaragua and elsewhere, including in relation to freedom of religion or belief. I will raise that with Ministers, as he asks, but he may also wish to raise it directly at Foreign Office oral questions on 20 January.

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

I recently met the Morley Indian community, who raised concerns with me about the proposed changes to the indefinite leave to remain rules. Many of these people are highly skilled and highly qualified, work in key sectors and claim no benefits, but they are seriously worried that their families will not qualify for ILR under the new rules, despite they themselves meeting the new higher eligibility requirements. I want to recognise that this community have enriched life in Leeds South West and Morley, and make a significant contribution to the UK. Will the Leader of the House grant a debate in Government time on the urgent need to clarify the new ILR rules for those that work hard and make a significant contribution to our country?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the contribution of the Indian community in his constituency, but also across our country. The changes we are making are about tightening the rules for future claimants, not a retrospective policy that would risk harming families who have made their lives here and have made such an important contribution. He may wish to raise his concerns directly with a Minister in the Westminster Hall debate on indefinite leave to remain on 2 February.

Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly respect the huge achievement of getting through to the third round of the FA cup for the first time—a massive achievement. It is good that that is on the record. I wish both the Seagulls of Weston-super-Mare and the Mariners of Grimsby Town the best of luck when they come together for what will be a coastal derby in the new year. The fans, the team and the club staff are all part not just of a local game but a national game, and I congratulate them on that fantastic milestone. I wish both teams well. I wish everyone involved in seasonal matches across the country all the very best for this festive period.

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

Merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to all the House staff, everybody here and everybody who is not.

When asked to become a kinship carer for seven children, in addition to already having two of her own, my constituent and her partner stepped up because those seven children were being neglected. She was then told by social services, who had asked her to take the children on, that she was not entitled to kinship carer allowance, a decision it then changed months later but which left the family in dire financial straits. They are still waiting for back payments even now. They have used all their savings and now they are reliant on food banks. I am working on this case, but in the meantime will the Leader of the House grant an urgent debate on the need to ensure that those who step up to be kinship carers get the support they deserve?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising the work of his constituent and the importance of kinship carers, who are selfless in their attitude but do this work at considerable cost. That is certainly not helped by any delay in getting the support that they need. He has raised this matter with me before, and I apologise therefore that it has not been resolved, but I give him my word that I will take it up with the relevant Minister and make sure that he gets a reply to ensure that there is no delay in these matters. Perhaps in the new year, kinship care and payment delays would make a good topic for an Adjournment debate.

Business of the House

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend brings to the House great professional and personal knowledge of these matters, and we should listen to her very closely. I know a lot of universities feel under pressure at this time; the Government are absolutely aware of that. I invite her to seek a meeting with the relevant Minister to talk through some of these issues, and to see what further the Government can do to address them.

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

After a string of burglaries across Morley, Gildersome and Drighlington, in which the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shop has been targeted more than any other, I am so pleased to report that four people are serving time in prison for these crimes. Will the Leader of the House join me in paying tribute to Inspector Mark Lund and his excellent police team for working so closely with me on this issue and a number of others, and will he grant a debate in Government time on the ever-growing need to get the police the resources they need to do their job properly?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I absolutely join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to Inspector Mark Lund and his team for their hard work keeping our streets safe. Such efforts should be the norm in police work. This winter, the police will use hotspot patrols, alongside locally tailored approaches, to keep our high streets and estates safe. He may wish to use next week’s pre-recess Adjournment debate to make his point further, but we will also bring to the House our proposals for the police settlement.