Business of the House

Sonia Kumar Excerpts

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the contribution of the Indian community in his constituency, but also across our country. The changes we are making are about tightening the rules for future claimants, not a retrospective policy that would risk harming families who have made their lives here and have made such an important contribution. He may wish to raise his concerns directly with a Minister in the Westminster Hall debate on indefinite leave to remain on 2 February.

[Sonia Kumar (Dudley) (Lab)]

In towns such as Dudley, bus routes are the lifeblood of the community. That is why I was disappointed when part of the 215 bus service serving Sledmere was going to be scrapped and residents were, rightly, upset. I am delighted that that decision has been overturned after lobbying Transport for West Midlands and I thank it for its change of direction. Will my right hon. Friend welcome that reinstatement and grant time for a debate on the importance of protecting bus routes where other forms of transport are not available?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly will join my hon. Friend. I congratulate her on lobbying for the bus service to be reinstated, which I understand from what she has said has happened. We need to congratulate her and everyone else who campaigned for that. The Government believe bus services are vital to local communities. I invite her to seek an Adjournment debate or a Backbench Business debate on bus services, where colleagues would be able to join her in appreciating the importance of those services and hear directly from Ministers.