Business of the House

Wendy Morton Excerpts

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am happy to join my hon. Friend in congratulating Chasewater Railway on spreading joy this holiday season. He says that a huge number of people will be part of it, and I thank Chasewater Railway for that. These initiatives happen thanks to volunteers playing their part, so we thank them—and indeed volunteers across the country.

[Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills) (Con)]

This week, the Birmingham bin strike escalated further. Now, even the agency workers who have been keeping a minimal service going have voted to join the strike from 1 December. I have raised this issue with the Leader of the House before, and was promised a statement, but the situation has got worse since then. Will he assure me that we will have a statement before the new wave of action begins next month?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The right hon. Lady knows that our priority has always been Birmingham residents. This is an issue for the employers in the first instance, but it is important that the council works with Unite to end the strike—that is long overdue—and to tackle concerns regarding agency work and issues of equal pay. We remain in close contact with the council and continue to monitor the situation. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is looking into it and will update the House at the earliest opportunity.