Business of the House

Debate between Mark Sewards and Alan Campbell

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

Debate between Mark Sewards and Alan Campbell

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.

Business of the House

Debate between Mark Sewards and Alan Campbell

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

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

Like my hon. Friend the Member for Southend West and Leigh (David Burton-Sampson), who is no longer in his place, my inbox is full to the brim with emails about fireworks. When they are enjoyed as part of professional displays on national holidays, they can be magnificent, but my constituents are concerned that they are being deployed well outside of normal hours and holiday times. On behalf of my constituents—those with post-traumatic stress disorder or autism, veterans and families with pets, who have all contacted me—may I press the Leader of the House for an urgent debate on the need to update firework regulations for the modern era?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue; he is not the first to do so today, and he is certainly not the first to do so in the past few weeks. This is an important matter, particularly at this time of year. It is true that there are rules on the use of fireworks, but, as we all know, they are not always kept to. That would be a popular topic for a debate, judging by the number of people who raise it with me.

Business of the House

Debate between Mark Sewards and Alan Campbell

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating his constituents on their important work. The work of the circular economy taskforce is a vital component of our sustainability ambitions. We will ensure that Britain is a world leader in circular innovation and will make us a clean energy superpower, and I will ensure that Ministers keep the House updated.

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

My knees nearly gave way when I ran the Morley 10 km last month, which is possibly the hilliest race in the UK.

[Mark Sewards]

It’s partly the bobbing, too.

I persevered, and I did so because Morley running club has raised £20,000 for good causes over the past four years. Will the Leader of the House join me in paying tribute to Morley running club, to the firefighters who were raising money for their charity—firefighters in full kit were outpacing me—and perhaps grant a debate on the need to support these running clubs to run more charitable races, but perhaps ones that are less punishing on the knees?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I congratulate Morley running club and the local firefighters on raising money for such a good cause, and I congratulate my hon. Friend on finishing the run himself—for me, I think more than my knees would be giving way. It is a great contribution of community groups and volunteers coming together, and it brings out the best in our local communities.