Business of the House

Roger Gale Excerpts

Thursday 14th May 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is a doughty champion for her communities, and I once again pay tribute to her for that. We are committed to regenerating communities through our waste action plan and by investing in libraries, cultural venues and youth services, ensuring that communities across the country get the investment they need. She draws particular attention to Pride in Place, which is not just about investing in local neighbourhoods; it is also about putting people in charge of decisions about their local communities, and the things that they care about and that affect their lives. She makes a strong case for further funding, and I will ensure that the Secretary of State hears that.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

First, I thank the Leader of the House for his unfailing courtesy at the Dispatch Box, and for the meticulous manner in which he refers Members’ concerns to the appropriate Ministers. Whoever emerges as the leader of the Labour party, I very much hope that he will remain in his post.

[Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)]

It might be him!

[Sir Roger Gale]

I would not wish that on him.

Given the Labour party’s manifesto commitments, some of us had rather hoped we might find in the King’s Speech a Bill to ban the proceeds of trophy hunting, something to do with hare coursing or improving farm animal welfare. The sad fact is that there was no such mention of any animal welfare issue whatsoever in the King’s Speech, and I would be grateful if the right hon. Gentleman addressed that.

While I am on my feet, could I also say that, with the hospitality industry on its knees, now is not the moment to introduce a tourism tax?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I would just say that a good old stager knows how to take advantage, but questions should cover one area, not two at the same time.

Business of the House

Roger Gale Excerpts

Thursday 16th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating Bathgate railway station, its staff and the volunteers who helped to bring the celebration together. I particularly mention volunteers because they play such an important role in our local communities. It is vital that communities have access to joined-up transport systems. The Government have recently announced the “Better Connected” strategy for England, so we are on the side of the people she is talking about.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

Many Members of the House, possibly including you, Mr Speaker, will have received communications from retired civil servants who are facing personal and financial distress as a result of the failure of Capita—the company handling the pensions—to deliver properly. Will the Leader of the House be good enough to write to the Cabinet Secretary and ask her to get a grip and sort out this mess, and seek to ensure that Capita receives no further Government contracts of any kind until this matter is fully, finally and satisfactorily resolved?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As has been said on a number of occasions in Business questions and beyond, the Government are absolutely of the view that such delays are unacceptable. This is not the service that people deserve, and resolving it is a matter of the utmost urgency. An urgent recovery plan is under way, and loans are available in the meantime to provide immediate financial support where it is needed. As the right hon. Gentleman reasonably requests, I will write to the Cabinet Secretary and make her aware of the situation, and get an update for him.

Business of the House

Roger Gale Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend again raises these matters, which have been raised consistently in the past few weeks by Members across the House. I hope that the Royal Mail, which listens to these matters, has heard what he has said. My right hon. Friend the Business Secretary has discussed Royal Mail’s performance with the chief executive, and the fact that it needs to do more to meet service delivery targets. Ofcom has fined Royal Mail three times on its service levels, and it is investigating Royal Mail’s compliance with its service quality obligations. My hon. Friend is right that it does not matter where someone lives; they deserve a good postal delivery system. Ofcom needs to continue to hold Royal Mail to account.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

Much has been said, rightly, in support of the women and girls who suffered at the hands of Epstein. Another group who must not be forgotten are the dozens of young women who were raped and sexually assaulted by Mohamed Fayed. Fayed is dead and has been judged in a higher place, but those who aided and abetted him are still under investigation by the Metropolitan police, and they must be brought to justice. That investigation is taking too long. Will the Leader of the House please invite the Home Secretary to make a statement about the progress of that inquiry and to indicate when some action may be brought in support of these ladies?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to raise this terrible case. Simply because the perpetrator is no longer here does not mean that the suffering gets any better for the people who have been affected. I am sure the Metropolitan police will have heard the right hon. Gentleman’s comments this morning, but I will raise the matter with the Home Secretary to see whether further progress can be made.

Business of the House

Roger Gale Excerpts

Thursday 11th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I first want to recognise the fantastic work that my hon. Friend did as my predecessor’s Parliamentary Private Secretary. I thank her for what I assume, therefore, is her first business question. A 350-mile bike ride is a terrific achievement, and I join her in recognising the importance of the work that the Sikh Helpline does for its local community. That is the sort of matter that could perhaps be raised in an Adjournment debate.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

I too welcome the new Leader of the House to his position. I suspect he will have rather more fun at the Dispatch Box than his successor in the Government Whips Office will. I associate myself with his kind remarks about Colin Lee, whose service as one of the Clerks of the House has been exemplary. As one of the longest-serving members of the Speaker’s Panel of Chairs, I have had the pleasure of working with Colin over very many years. He will be sorely missed, and the House owes him a huge debt of gratitude.

Charities in the United Kingdom working in Africa tell me that as a result of the withdrawal of the United States Agency for International Development, women and children are dying in droves. The House will not be sitting when President Trump visits the United Kingdom, so we will not have an opportunity to send a clear message from this House at that time, but the Prime Minister will have an opportunity. Will the Leader of the House ask the Prime Minister to place on the agenda for discussion in the margins the withdrawal of USAID from Africa, which is having such a devastating effect?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will commit to making the Prime Minister aware of what the right hon. Gentleman has asked, and I hope that will be heard when the President visits. Given the right hon. Gentleman’s experience and voice, I am pretty sure that message will be heard loud and clear.

Business of the House

Roger Gale Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

That was my hon. Friend’s first business question! I welcome him to the delights of business questions. They are normally followed by a compliment to me and an invitation to the constituency—I was waiting for that before I got up to reply. I will certainly join my hon. Friend in thanking Tina, Nathan and all those who provided such wonderful holiday facilities for children.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

Regardless of the fact that there is no legal requirement on the Government of the United Kingdom to transfer ownership of the British Indian Ocean Territories to Mauritius, the Government have challenged the Opposition’s figures about the cost of that exercise. Before the debate on Tuesday, will the Government place in the Library of the House of Commons detailed estimates of the cost to the British taxpayer?

[Lucy Powell]

As ever, alongside legislation we publish all the necessary documents, including the costings, which we have been transparent about. I gently say to the right hon. Gentleman that before the election his Government embarked on 11 rounds of negotiations; they knew that the Government needed to resolve this issue in order to protect our defence and security for generations to come. I am pleased that we have managed to get that deal across the line.

Business of the House

Roger Gale Excerpts

Thursday 12th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. My intention is for business questions to run until around 11.45, so if we can help each other by speeding through, that would be really good. I call Sir Roger Gale to set a good example.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

The Government have pledged to enhance the record of the previous Conservative Government and uphold animal welfare. Retained European regulations currently prohibit the handling of chickens by their legs, but in their first act of animal welfare, the Government are proposing to pass regulations to permit that harmful practice. Will the Leader of the House ask the agriculture Minister to write to me—and place a copy of the letter in the Library —to explain why the Government are choosing to lower the legal standard rather than to uphold the law and protect animal welfare?

[Mr Speaker]

That was a bad example.

Government Announcements

Roger Gale Excerpts

Monday 2nd June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. May I thank the Leader of the House for reminding me of the mistakes of the previous Government in not coming to the Floor of the House? I would have hoped that this Government had learned from the mistakes that have just been highlighted. To try to defend what you criticise is not a way forward.

I am trying to ensure that Members on both sides of the House are allowed to question Ministers first, rather than watching announcements on Sky News. It is interesting that the SDR has been offered to journalists but that the Members here have not had the chance to see it. I agree with the Leader of the House, and I thank her again for reminding me, but let us now see the Government treat this House in the way that I expect.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

Will you take a point of order now, Mr Speaker?

[Mr Speaker]

No, I will not, because we have to wait till the end, as you well know, Sir Roger, as one of the most senior Members.

Business of the House

Roger Gale Excerpts

Thursday 15th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I will absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating those who organise Durham Pride every year. I have a large Pride event in my constituency in Manchester, too. We are coming towards Pride season— I think we do usually make time for a debate on the LGBT community ahead of Pride, but I will take her question into account.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

Later today, the House will debate the subject of solar farms. I do not wish to pre-empt that debate, but the fact of the matter is that building solar farms on agricultural land is completely incompatible with the Government’s proposed policy on sustainable agriculture. Could the Leader of the House have a quiet word with the Prime Minister in the privacy of the Cabinet Room and ask him to talk to the Energy and Agriculture Secretaries and bang some heads together?

[Lucy Powell]

As the right hon. Gentleman says, we will be debating some of those issues later today. He is absolutely right that we need to strike a balance between meeting our energy needs, achieving energy security and getting bills down—for which developing solar is absolutely key—while at the same time maintaining our agricultural land and food security. I am sure we will be debating those issues later.

Business of the House

Roger Gale Excerpts

Thursday 24th April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

Coeliac Awareness Month is an important time and I commend my hon. Friend for raising this issue in the House. She is right that we need to do more to raise awareness of that debilitating disease, especially in relation to treatment and access to affordable gluten-free food, and that would make a good topic for a debate.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

The Leader of the House will probably know that last night, elsewhere in this House, the campaign to return Ukraine’s stolen children was launched, with cross-party support and a very large number of people present. Some 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted and taken to the neo-Soviet Union. That is a war crime, as was the bombing of Kyiv and Kharkiv last night, and Putin is a war criminal. Will the Leader of the House consult the Leader of the House of Lords and try to ensure that no person who supports President Putin, however grand, is given a platform that would enable them to address these Houses of Parliament?

[Lucy Powell]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising the issue of the stolen children of Ukraine and the event to launch that campaign in the House yesterday. There has just been an urgent question about this matter. The Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty), was very clear about our unwavering support for Ukraine and our condemnation of the continued actions of Russia and Putin, especially overnight but also over a long period of time. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. We are establishing the coalition of the willing to support what Ukraine wants going forward. The only country that is stopping peace is Russia, under Vladimir Putin, who could stop this war tomorrow if he chose to do so. I am sure that we will continue to discuss these issues.

Business of the House

Roger Gale Excerpts

Thursday 3rd April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am sorry to hear that my hon. Friend’s constituents have not had their compensation payment. Over 5,000 victims have had their payments made so far, but we certainly have more to do. She will recognise that this Government set aside the proper amount of money necessary for the first time, but I will ensure that her case is expedited.

[Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) (Con)]

Following the conversion from paper visas to e-visas, members of the Ukrainian community in the United Kingdom who are refugees are having considerable difficulty renewing their visas because of IT failures within the Home Office system, leaving them effectively without any proof of status. I know the Leader of the House is sympathetic to their plight. Would she be kind enough to ask the Home Secretary, given the shortage of time between now and the recess, if she would make a written statement to clarify the position for everybody?

[Lucy Powell]

I was not aware of the issue the right hon. Member raised. I know the matter of Ukrainian visas will be of concern to many Members across this House, and I thank him for raising it. I will absolutely ensure that the Home Office considers a written ministerial statement or some other means to communicate an update on the matter.