Business of the House

Seamus Logan Excerpts

Thursday 9th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I absolutely will, and I pay tribute to everybody involved in Muslim Climate Action Week. It is important that we take this issue seriously, not least given the period through which we are living, and I wish them well. It is important that faith groups and interfaith groups come together on what is, in many ways, the defining issue of our age.

[Seamus Logan (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East) (SNP)]

Hospitality Together recently reported that 84% of small independent hospitality businesses across the UK said that it was either possible or very likely they would face closure in the next 12 months. A range of punishing policies has been inflicted on small, locally owned outlets, but the Government could address the situation by reducing VAT from 20% to 10%. That is exactly what my presentation Bill, the Hospitality (Value Added Tax) Bill, which is due for Second Reading next year, would do. Will the Leader of the House provide time for a debate on the issue, so that Members from all parties can make the case for reducing VAT on hospitality and so protecting jobs, encouraging growth and supporting the renewal of our high streets?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman is raising the importance of supporting hospitality now and through his Bill. The Government are committed to doing everything that we can. I gently say to him that a reduction in VAT is a costly matter, and we cannot have it both ways; he wants to reduce VAT, but that means he and others will be looking for more money for our public services.

Business of the House

Seamus Logan Excerpts

Thursday 29th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

We utterly condemn any examples of underpayment or exploitation, and I put on the record that care workers do a fantastic job up and down our country. As for when we may get the opportunity to debate these matters, I will draw my hon. Friend’s remarks to the attention of the Secretary of State and will do everything I can to find an opportunity for her to raise these matters in a debate.

[Seamus Logan (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East) (SNP)]

Yesterday, in response to a question from the hon. Member for Glasgow West (Patricia Ferguson), the Deputy Prime Minister made a statement in the Chamber that was incorrect, misleading and disrespectful to Lord Brodie—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Order. The hon. Gentleman should please be seated, as I am on my feet. We do not accuse other Members of misleading the House—inadvertently perhaps, but not misleading. Perhaps he can correct the record by starting his question again, and keep it short.

[Seamus Logan]

I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker.

The Deputy Prime Minister made a statement in the Chamber that was incorrect, inadvertently misleading and disrespectful to Lord Brodie, who is chairing a public inquiry into events at the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow. He stated that the Scottish Government had

“sided with the health board and dismissed families who went through tragic circumstances.”—[Official Report, 28 January 2026; Vol. 779, c. 900.]

That is categorically untrue, given that it was the SNP Scottish Government who set up the public inquiry. [Interruption.] Worse, it was a naked pre-election smear and an act of desperation on behalf of the Labour party, which is struggling to make third place in the polls. What does the Leader of the House propose to do to put a stop to Ministers coming to the Dispatch Box and repeating falsehoods, and will he call on the Deputy Prime Minister to apologise for undermining Lord Brodie?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Of course, it is important that Ministers, and indeed Members of this House, are accurate in their comments. However, as the hon. Gentleman will have heard—not least from Members behind me—this matter is one of dispute, and his version of events is also disputed. I am sure that the Deputy Prime Minister will hear the hon. Gentleman’s remarks, but it is disappointing that, on such an important matter, he seeks to make a political point about polling and elections. I gently suggest that the Scottish Government should get on with the biggest settlement we have ever given to Scotland, and spend it better.

Business of the House

Seamus Logan Excerpts

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Seamus Logan (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East) (SNP)]

This Government came to power on a promise to restore confidence in government, and ensure that Ministers are held to the highest standards. In the light of growing public concern about standards in public life, and with senior Government figures making headlines for all the wrong reasons almost weekly, will the Leader of the House agree to a debate in Government time on the Nolan principles?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Prime Minister is very clear about the importance of Ministers operating to the highest standards. The hon. Gentleman may wish to secure a debate on the subject himself, because I am sure we will be able to give a response. If he is alluding to recent events and issues, I gently point out that the people concerned reported themselves and have been investigated in an independent way. We need faith when it comes to these matters. It is right that people be independently investigated, and that we abide by whatever decision comes at the end of it all.