Business of the House

Nick Smith Excerpts

Thursday 29th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

We recognise that some parents’ experiences of the Child Maintenance Service do not meet the standards expected of it, which is why we are committed to reforming the system. I will assist the hon. Lady in trying to get a meeting with the relevant Minister, so she can raise the case in the context of what we are trying to do generally with the CMS.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney) (Lab)]

We had huge wildfires in the Welsh valleys last summer, so I welcome last week’s summit, which announced the UK’s first permanent military firefighting capability. When I met firefighters after the summer, I heard anecdotal reports that some fires were being started deliberately. Could we please have a ministerial update on further next steps after the summit? We need many more preventive ideas to address this dreadful issue.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The anecdotal reports that my hon. Friend raises are very concerning indeed. The Government are investing £97 million in upgrading national resilience assets and we are developing England’s first wildfire action plan, covering prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. I will ensure that he receives an update from the relevant Minister to give him the answer he seeks.