Business of the House

Debate between Samantha Niblett and Alan Campbell

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for raising the importance of the independent bookselling industry, and I will ensure that her words are heard by the relevant Minister. We are changing maximum payment terms, giving certainty to companies that they will be paid on time. Our shopkeepers and family-run firms work hard and they deserve the Government’s backing. We are determined to give them that backing, but too often they are held back by late payments.

[Samantha Niblett (South Derbyshire) (Lab)]

New House Farm school in my part of Mickleover in South Derbyshire is planned and groundwork is complete. The trigger point for the release of the section 106 funds is 314 houses, which is likely to be met in November. However, we have yet to receive a clear signal to go ahead and build the school from the Department for Education and we do not want to lose out. Will the Leader of the House please help me to get that clear signal, so that families in Mickleover and the local vicinity can be assured of their children’s education in a state-of-the-art local school?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I understand the anxiety felt by my hon. Friend’s constituents, and the need for certainty on their children’s future education. The Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven and Workington (Josh MacAlister), has committed to provide an update on the outcomes of the review of mainstream free school projects later this year. It is a substantial exercise covering 44 projects, and I will ensure that Members are notified as soon as there is a decision.

Business of the House

Debate between Samantha Niblett and Alan Campbell

Thursday 23rd October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend may wish to seek his own debate on these matters, to highlight this issue and the support the Government gave to JLR and all the companies that support it. He will know that cyber-security is an important matter. We are working with the National Cyber Security Centre to provide businesses with tools, advice and support to protect them against cyber-attacks. I think a debate to highlight this issue would be well attended.

[Samantha Niblett (South Derbyshire) (Lab)]

Four years ago today, 17-year-old Phoebe Johnson tragically died in a car crash on the A514 in my constituency. The driver of the car she was in had only been driving for eight weeks and admitted she was too drunk to drive after leaving a house party. Phoebe’s parents Nicky and Paul said:

“Our lives will never be the same again.”

They are working with the Brake campaign to push for a graduated driving licence system, to improve road safety and prevent further young lives being lost. Will the Leader of the House commit Government time for this to be discussed in Parliament?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I pay my respects to Phoebe’s family. It is an unbearable tragedy when this happens, and it happens too often. Work is under way to deliver an updated strategic framework for road safety—that will be the first one in over a decade. I will ensure my hon. Friend receives an update on that, and should she seek a debate, I am sure it would be well attended.