John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)
Will the Leader of the House give us the forthcoming business?
The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Alan Campbell)
The business for the week commencing 5 January 2026 will include:
Monday 5 January—Debate on a motion on mobile connectivity in rural areas. The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
Tuesday 6 January—Second Reading of the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill.
Wednesday 7 January—Opposition day (15th allotted day). Debate on a motion in the name of the official Opposition, subject to be announced.
Thursday 8 January—Debate on a motion on the effectiveness of Magnitsky-style sanctions for serious human rights abuses, followed by debate on a motion on high street gambling reform. The subjects for these debates were determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
Friday 9 January—The House will not be sitting.
The provisional business for the week commencing 12 January includes:
Monday 12 January—Committee of the whole House on the Finance (No. 2) Bill (day one).
Tuesday 13 January—Committee of the whole House on the Finance (No. 2) Bill (day two).
Wednesday 14 January—Remaining stages of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.
Thursday 15 January—General debate on new towns, followed by general debate on financial support for small businesses and individuals during the covid-19 pandemic. The subjects for these debates were determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
Friday 16 January—The House will not be sitting.
John Lamont
I thank the Leader of the House for giving us the business for the start of the new year.
I begin by expressing my deepest condolences and sympathies to the victims of the Bondi Beach attack at the weekend. I am sure that we were all horrified to see the events unfold, with innocent Jews murdered as they enjoyed Hanukkah in the evening sunshine. As the Leader of the Opposition said yesterday, we must do much more to tackle antisemitism and Islamic extremism around the world, but also here in the United Kingdom.
Mr Speaker, I wish you, the Leader of the House and Members, the Doorkeepers, the catering team and all parliamentary staff a very happy Christmas.
Will the Leader of the House be making any new year’s resolutions? I know that he respects this place and the important role of MPs and Parliament in holding Ministers to account. May I suggest that his new year’s resolution should be to ensure that the 2,644 parliamentary questions that have not received a response are answered as soon as possible, please, and that all the many letters and emails from MPs to Ministers that have not received the courtesy of a reply are dealt with as quickly as possible?
As we look ahead to 2026, I am reminded that Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” is a tale not just of redemption but of the perils of ignoring reality. Sadly, after only 18 months of this Labour Government, it is already clear that no amount of festive storytelling can disguise what is happening to our country. If anyone needs a visit from the three ghosts this year, it is those on the Government Benches.
Let us start with the ghost of Christmas past. In opposition, Labour promised everything to everyone: lower energy bills, shorter NHS waiting lists, kick-starting economic growth, safer streets, 1.5 million new homes and world-class public services, funded—apparently—without raising taxes. The British people were sold a vision of transformation without the trade-offs. Now that Labour is in government, reality is quickly catching up.
The ghost of Christmas present shows us the consequences. Since the election, we have seen rising taxes on working people, a retreat from every major spending pledge, a benefits bill rising higher and higher, a cost of living crisis made in Downing Street and economic growth going in the wrong direction. Labour promised an immediate plan to rescue the NHS; instead, waiting lists have continued to rise and militant doctors remain in dispute, resulting in 93,000 lost appointments and patients being told to expect a long, difficult winter. This Labour Government promised a plan for social care; six months later, there is still none. They promised cheaper energy bills; bills are up again. They promised 1.5 million new homes; yet planning reforms are already being bogged down by internal Labour rows. They promised 6,500 more teachers, but there are now 400 fewer teachers since the election. They promised to smash the gangs, but illegal migration continues to rise, and despite promising to restore trust in our justice system, Labour’s early release scheme has seen offenders let out early while police forces struggle with 1,316 fewer police. This is not the change the public were promised.
Now to the ghost of Christmas yet to come: if the first 18 months are a sign of things to come, the future should send a winter chill through us all. Even more tax rises are due to hit working people thanks to the Chancellor’s “Nightmare before Christmas” Budget last month. The family farm tax will take effect, which will decimate our rural economy and undermine food security. We will see Departments told to brace for spending cuts after Labour admitted the money was not there; councils warning of bankruptcy, and investment faltering as businesses grapple with mixed signals on planning, energy and regulation; our liberties under attack, with the introduction of digital ID and the scrapping of trials by jury; and a Prime Minister who talks endlessly about missions but is yet to deliver a single measurable improvement to the lives of ordinary families.
The lesson of Dickens’s tale is that it is never too late to change course. For the sake of our country, we on the Opposition Benches urge the Government to do exactly that. We urge them to be honest about what they can fund, to be transparent about what they will cut, to show some backbone and, above all else, to keep their promises. Let us hope that by next Christmas, the Government have changed direction, because the country cannot afford another year like 2025. Happy new year.
Sir Alan Campbell
First, I join the shadow Deputy Leader of the House, and the whole House, in sending our thoughts and condolences to those affected by the terrorist attack in Bondi Beach. Hanukkah should be a time of celebration; instead, it has become a scene of horror and violence. Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society, and we stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.
This is our last business questions of the year, so I would like to thank you, Mr Speaker, and wish you and Members across the House a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. It is a shame that there are no Reform Members joining us in the House today. I understand their nativity play has been cancelled this year because they could not find three wise men.
I want to address some of the points raised by the shadow Deputy Leader of the House specifically, but let me first take the opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved over the past 12 months, and recognise and thank all those who have embodied the spirit of good will and service this year.
First, I acknowledge the hard work of charities and organisations in our constituencies—none more important those that support people experiencing homelessness. The Government are backing those organisations with our homelessness strategy, which outlines our commitment to halving the number of long-term rough sleepers. We are also delivering on our promise of safe and secure housing by banning no-fault evictions and introducing new protections for renters. We are bringing forward planning reform to build the new homes that we need and to deliver the biggest boost to social and affordable homes in a generation.
We must also recognise the contributions of charities and community groups in supporting the most vulnerable through the cost of living crisis. We have extended the household support fund to support struggling households. We have also launched the warm homes plan to deliver lower energy bills and lift 1 million households out of fuel poverty, and we have published our child poverty strategy, which will lift half a million children out of poverty. We are improving children’s life chances now, and addressing the root causes of child poverty in the future.
I also thank teachers and all those who support our young people. I hope that they get a well-deserved rest over the festive period. We are backing them by investing in our children’s future, recruiting 6,500 more teachers nationally, and increasing school funding by £1.7 billion.
NHS workers are the backbone of our health service, and I acknowledge their dedication—they continue to care for patients through the festive period. We are backing them with our long-term plan to rebuild our NHS over the next 10 years, protecting investment, creating more appointments, and recruiting more GPs and mental health workers.
We must also acknowledge and thank local authority workers, postal workers and shop workers, who work throughout the festive period and keep our country running. And last but not least, I acknowledge the dedication and tireless work of our police and emergency services, who keep our community safe. We are backing them with the resources they need to do their vital jobs, which is why we are publishing our provisional police funding settlement today and will continue to ensure that money is directed to the right places. We look forward to delivering on our commitment to recruiting more police officers in 2026.
Let me address some of the points made by the hon. Gentleman. He asked about my new year’s resolution; it will be not to make resolutions. He asked about parliamentary questions and other correspondence from Ministers. I do take those matters seriously, as he said; we constantly tell Departments that they need to up their game. However, he knows through his work—not least on the Modernisation Committee—that there is a deeper issue with PQs. Their number has increased enormously. Departments need to up their game quite frankly, but at the same time, we must think carefully about the number of PQs we are putting in and whether the system can cope with it. This has been a problem not just for this Government but for the previous Government, too.
The hon. Gentleman referenced Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol”. Let me turn instead to “A Tale of Two Cities” and draw a comparison between 14 years of Conservative Government and 18 months of Labour Government. To paraphrase, “It was the worst of times, it is now the best of times.”
Several hon. Members rose—
Andy MacNae (Rossendale and Darwen) (Lab)
A very merry Christmas to you, Mr Speaker, and to all House staff and colleagues.
Since we were elected, my Lancashire colleagues and I have been campaigning for more funding for our local services. When new local government funding was announced yesterday, I was really pleased to see that the Government have properly listened. Funding is now following need, and a decade of austerity is ending. It is great to see Blackburn with Darwen borough council and Rossendale borough council getting significant increases. We are working with council leaders to ensure that the impacts of that funding are felt in every community.
However, most key services in Rossendale are delivered by Lancashire county council. They have been under threat since Reform took control, with cuts to nurseries, gritting and care homes all being considered. Now, thanks to the Government and to lobbying by Labour MPs across Lancashire, the county council will get a massive increase—£310 million more—by 2028, so Reform has no more excuses. Will the Leader of the House join me in calling on Reform to stop the cuts and focus instead on delivering the services that we all rely on?
Sir Alan Campbell
I agree with my hon. Friend that the callous words of the council appear to be completely nonsensical and, in some cases, outright dangerous. The Government take the matters that he raises very seriously, including questions about road safety, which he has raised in the past. That is why we are backing local authorities with increased resources, but I urge Reform-led Lancashire county council to take these matters more seriously.
Mr Speaker
I have been very generous because it is Christmas, but the hon. Gentleman has taken a minute longer than he should have done. Hopefully he will get a new watch as a Christmas present, ready for the new year.
Sir Alan Campbell
In answer to the hon. Gentleman’s last question, unfortunately my answer is no; I will not be doing that. For a moment I thought that the pantomime season had come early, but I encourage him not to give up his day job.
The hon. Gentleman raised the matter of statements, which arises from time to time. I am afraid that I previously made the point I am going to make now. The Government are often in a lose-lose situation: if we do not come to the House with statements, Members demand to know what we are going to do, but if we do bring forward statements, including written ministerial statements, we are criticised for there being too many. There is nothing new in this; as we break for any recess, there is often a flurry of statements and written ministerial statements so that the House gets to know what it needs to know before we break.
I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that we will be returning in the new year to give Members the opportunity to debate some of the issues that have been the subject of statements, particularly written ministerial statements, this week. Getting information out to them in a timely fashion is therefore important, but it is also crucial for local authorities and police forces.
We understand the challenges facing local authorities as a result of higher demand and the cost of providing critical services, which is why we are addressing the question of fair funding and bringing in the first multi-year settlement in 10 years. It is important that local authorities and Members of Parliament get the earliest sight of that, which is why we have done what we have done. I will take up the point that the hon. Gentleman raises; I suspect he knows the answer, but it is important that all Members get to hear these figures at the earliest opportunity.
Ms Julie Minns (Carlisle) (Lab)
I took the opportunity a little earlier to wish you a merry Christmas, Mr Speaker. May I echo your thanks to all the House staff for everything they do all year round to guide us and keep us safe?
I recently visited St James Carlisle Guides and Brownies. I was reminded then, as I was by the recent death of my 100-year-old aunt, who was a Guide leader and county commissioner for many years, of the important and invaluable support that volunteer Guide leaders give to young women and girls. Next year marks 70 years of the Queen’s Guide award. Will the Leader of the House consider how we might best celebrate and thank generations of Guide leaders?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Scouts and Guides can have a huge impact on the lives of young people, giving them the opportunity to develop new skills and character and to engage with local communities. I am sorry to hear of the passing of her aunt—I commend her aunt not just for getting to that incredible age, but for the dedication she showed to the guiding movement. Because there is obvious agreement across the House on how important these matters are, I encourage my hon. Friend to perhaps apply for a Backbench Business debate when we return, to give others an opportunity to contribute on this matter.
Mr Speaker
That is perfect timing—I call the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee.
Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)
I thank the Leader of the House for announcing the Backbench Business for the Chamber when we come back. I congratulate him on being briefed immediately, given that the offers were accepted only this morning. In addition, the business in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 6 January will be a debate on less survivable cancers. On Thursday 8 January, the Liaison Committee has taken up the option for a debate on the Scottish Affairs Committee’s report; the second debate will be on Myanmar and religious minority persecution. On Tuesday 13 January there will be a debate on the potential merits of a statutory duty of care for universities. Offers are outstanding for the Thursday, so we are waiting to hear back on those.
I join others in condemning the terrible atrocities at Bondi Beach and in expressing sympathy for the victims and their families. It has always been the case that chants such as, “Globalise the intifada”, “Death to the IDF”, and, “From the river to the sea” are deeply antisemitic. They should be arrestable offences, and there should be prosecutions as a result. Yesterday, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and his counterpart in Manchester released a statement saying that, in future, those chants will be arrestable offences, but that begs a number of questions. Does that apply only to London and Manchester? What about the rest of England? What about Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales?
What guidance is the Home Secretary issuing to the police on the actions that should be taken against those who chant those sorts of antisemitic tropes? Will the Leader of the House encourage the Home Secretary or one of the Home Office Ministers to come before the House immediately when we return—or this afternoon, if necessary—to make clear what the position is, so that people understand what they can say and what will happen to them as a result of chanting those antisemitic tropes?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank the hon. Gentleman and his Committee for their invaluable work. As he has said, all forms of hatred are completely unacceptable and have no place in our community, and inciting violence and hatred is already illegal in this country. The Prime Minister has made it clear that there is no other interpretation of calls to “internationalise the intifada” than that it is a call for violence against Jewish communities, and they are therefore entirely unacceptable.
Free speech is an important right in this country and always will be, wherever we live, but it cannot extend to inciting hatred or harassing others. When guidance is issued, it is important that it is clear and understandable. I will draw the hon. Gentleman’s comments to the attention of the Home Secretary and ensure that there is clarity going forward on this really important matter.
Euan Stainbank (Falkirk) (Lab)
Merry Christmas, Mr Speaker.
The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Falkirk, whether it be the Denny Boys getting everybody into the mood last month with their Ring doorbell edition of “Last Christmas”, the school Christmas fairs—which I know many of my family and friends who are teachers are still enjoying—or the very successful inaugural Falkirk festival of trees, which took place last weekend and the weekend before, thanks in no small part to the Falkirk Delivers team. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking the workers, emergency services and volunteers in Falkirk and across the country who will be working so hard this Christmas so that we can all enjoy a restful Christmas and a peaceful new year?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing such festive news to business questions. I am sure that the whole House will join me in thanking the workers and volunteers in businesses and local organisations in Falkirk for their tireless efforts to bring Christmas spirit to their community. In doing so, of course, we thank similar organisations and individuals in all our constituencies for the fantastic work they do.
Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)
May I ask the Leader of the House about the restoration and renewal of the Houses of Parliament, which is fast developing into a major scandal? According to some estimates, up to £800 million may already have been spent, with barely a brick being laid. We need an urgent decision. I served for many years on various bodies concerned with this programme, and the whole debate has been bedevilled by plans for 15-year decants that may never happen and the setting up of a delivery authority, instead of just getting on with the work around us. The Leader of the House may not agree with my particular view, but I am sure he agrees that we need to have a decision, there needs to be clear leadership, and we need to get on with the work.
Sir Alan Campbell
I absolutely agree with the Father of the House, and in taking this job I made it one of my priorities to see if we could move restoration and renewal forward. I am pleased to be able to tell him that there is a degree of consensus between the two commissions and the client board on these matters, and a report will be forthcoming early in the new year. It is important that we get that report right, rather than rush it, but it will set out what the future might look like and where decisions might lie. I hope that report will give Members the opportunity to consider these matters carefully, because it is important that we make progress, but whichever route we choose will not come without a considerable cost. I am absolutely clear that once that report is out there and Members have had a chance to digest it, it will be up to this House and the other place to have the final say on how we move forward on this, as I hope we will.
Terry Jermy (South West Norfolk) (Lab)
I am very proud to employ a special educational needs and disabilities specialist caseworker, and I am grateful that Parliament funds that role, which is currently supporting more than 150 families across South West Norfolk—families who are desperate and are navigating a SEND system that we know to be in crisis. Does the Leader of the House share my concern that Tory-controlled Norfolk county council has recently written to me to try to close down this support service, continuing its adversarial approach to dealing with SEND in the county rather than focusing on supporting vulnerable families?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is a champion for SEND matters, and I thank him for that. The SEND system is broken, but we are working to fix it, investing a total of £12 billion in SEND this year. As my hon. Friend knows, we will bring forward a schools White Paper early in the new year, but politics is about choices and priorities, and it is a great pity that the council he refers to appears to have set itself at odds with so many families in his area by taking the position it has.
Monica Harding (Esher and Walton) (LD)
May I wish you, Mr Speaker, and your team a very merry Christmas? I also put on record our thanks for the forbearance that your staff have shown to us new MPs over the past year.
Sandown Park racecourse in my constituency, which was the late Queen Mother’s favourite racecourse, is bringing to a close a year of celebrations for its 150th birthday. For a century and a half, not only has that historic venue brought enjoyment to my constituents; it has also been a vital employer and a contributor to the local economy, driving footfall and trade for Esher high street, and supporting local shops, restaurants, pubs and hotels on race days and during major events. It also provides valued support to our very own Princess Alice hospice through its fundraising events, such as last week’s Santa fun run. Will the Leader of the House consider making Government time available so that the House can recognise the contribution of long-established local venues such as Sandown Park racecourse to local economies—
Sir Alan Campbell
I certainly will. Our racecourses are very important, and not just at this time of year but throughout the year. It is clear that they are much more than just a place that people go to watch racing; they are very much part of local communities. I very much support the hon. Lady’s comments and wish Sandown a great future.
Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney) (Lab)
Merry Christmas to all. I bet Members will join me in paying tribute to our hard-working posties and sorting office staff. The team in Ebbw Vale do a brilliant job. However, despite their best efforts, constituents report delays receiving letters and even missed hospital appointments. Royal Mail management cite resourcing challenges. Does the Leader of the House agree that Ofcom should ensure that Royal Mail meets its universal service obligation, and can we have a Government statement on this?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend raises an issue that affects not just his constituency but many others. I do agree on the Ofcom point. Once we get through this busy festive period—we thank postal workers throughout the country for their work—perhaps he should apply for a debate so that we can reflect on what has happened.
Sir John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings) (Con)
Merry Christmas to you, Mr Speaker, to the Leader of the House and to my friends across the House. I also wish a merry Christmas to my constituent in Holbeach, Annette Bramley, although at this time she will be grieving the loss of her daughter Holly, who was brutally murdered by a worthless, wicked husband. We have just debated animal welfare, and this week we have talked about violence against women. This man tortured and brutally killed Holly’s pets before he killed her. So often that is the case: first come God’s creatures, then come men and women. Will the Leader of the House make a statement to support Annette’s campaign for a national register of animal cruelty? That would give some solace and hope to those many women and children—and men, by the way—who face domestic abuse.
Sir Alan Campbell
The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that the early signs of abuse against partners, often women and girls, can be found in violence towards pets. He raises a very interesting point. As he knows, we are bringing forward the violence against women and girls strategy, which will be debated at some point. I invite him to raise this point at that moment, but I will certainly raise it with the relevant Secretary of State.
Emma Foody (Cramlington and Killingworth) (Lab/Co-op)
Tomorrow I will have the absolute privilege of going to Burradon primary school to meet Ava, the winner of my Cramlington and Killingworth constituency Christmas card competition. Ava won with a fantastic design amid fierce competition from other schools right across the constituency. The card has been sent to the King, to the Prime Minister, to you, Mr Speaker, and to many local community groups, organisations and businesses in the area. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Ava and wishing all the pupils and teachers at Burradon and all the schools right across Cramlington and Killingworth a very merry Christmas?
Sir Alan Campbell
I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Ava and the whole of Burradon primary school on winning the competition. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe that last year’s winner was Shiremoor primary school, which used to be in my seat by is now, I am jealous to say, in that of my hon. Friend. I wish them well, too. I also take the opportunity to thank the teachers, teaching assistants and all the hard-working staff in our local schools and across the country, and wish them all a very peaceful but merry Christmas.
Sir Gavin Williamson (Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge) (Con)
I have no doubt that you will be very organised and ready for Christmas, Mr Speaker, with all your presents purchased and wrapped. Some of us are not quite like that and will be making panicked purchases around our constituencies this weekend. If people are parking in Penkridge at Boscomoor retail centre or the Quinton Court shopping centre in Great Wyrley, there is a high chance that the parking operator, ParkMaven, will issue tickets on their cars, totally without justification. What more can be done to stop these rogue operators? May we have a statement from the Government?
Sir Alan Campbell
I hope that the operators have heard the right hon. Gentleman’s words, because this is an issue not just in his constituency, but elsewhere. The Government have attempted to tackle it, and we have done some really good things, but it continues to be an issue in some places. I will write to him after taking it up with the Transport Secretary—I think the Home Secretary will also have some responsibility for these matters—and get back to him.
Amanda Martin (Portsmouth North) (Lab)
I wish you and all the House staff a very merry Christmas, Mr Speaker.
I thank constituents for raising concerns about playgrounds in Stamshaw, Hilsea and Baffins that lack age-appropriate equipment and proper access for disabled children, which contribute to antisocial behaviour in those playgrounds. Will the Leader of the House make time for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to update the House on how councils can access the £18 million that was announced in the Budget to refurbish playgrounds and on how sites can be prioritised, so that families in Pompey can once again enjoy safe places to play?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for her assiduous campaigning on behalf of her constituents, and join her in recognising the important part that playgrounds play in our social infrastructure. I will draw her request to the attention of Ministers and ensure that she gets a reply on the matter of how to access funding.
John Glen (Salisbury) (Con)
On Sunday, George Starling told me of his work as a volunteer for the Prison Fellowship with the Sycamore Tree project, which is a restorative justice scheme that has been going on for over 50 years. The scheme has been shut down, and its appeal has not been granted. It is a victim awareness and restorative justice programme involving six weeks of work in prisons up and down the country. Could we have a statement from a Minister or a debate on the role of Christian charities in delivering restorative justice? It seems very unreasonable that all the volunteers, who have done such amazing work over 25 years, are going to be prevented from continuing to do so.
Sir Alan Campbell
I certainly pay tribute to the work of George Starling and the Sycamore Tree project, not least because it has been going on for 50 years. I do not know the details of why the funding might not be in place, but I will take up the matter with the Prisons Minister, who I know shares the right hon. Gentleman’s views on the matter of restorative justice and how we need to improve our prison system.
Jon Trickett (Normanton and Hemsworth) (Lab)
May I warmly endorse the generous comments of the Leader of the House about the public sector workers, often on low pay, who serve our communities, especially in holiday periods? I cannot extend that warm greeting to the management at Yorkshire Water, which has polluted our river courses, raised its prices and failed to deliver services more generally. Today we learn from the BBC that the chief executive, who earned £1.7 million over a two-year period, was secretly paid two further payments of £660,000 each. Can we have a debate about the scandalous levels of high pay in corporate Britain, particularly pay that is kept secret from the public?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend will know that the Government are bringing forward a series of measures on how to improve the water industry, which was in a dire state when we came into government. That includes looking at the role of the water ombudsman and others, and at how to protect customers from the sorts of practices that my hon. Friend describes. Let me take up the matter with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. If he wishes to meet Ministers, I will encourage them to meet him.
Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) (SNP)
If I may crave your indulgence for a brief moment, Mr Speaker, I thank you and your deputies for all your service this year; all House staff, particularly those who keep us safe and those who will be working over Christmas; and all Members’ staff, who will in many cases continue to be on the frontline in helping people over Christmas.
In Aberdeen, the fiscal situation means that a number of people are losing their jobs in the oil and gas industry. The Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury measure that by looking at how many people are claiming unemployment benefits, such as universal credit. That misses the key point that many people are moving abroad, retiring or simply moving out of the workforce completely and not claiming benefits. Will the Leader of the House ask the Work and Pensions Secretary and the Treasury whether there is a better way to measure accurately the number of jobs that are being lost?
Sir Alan Campbell
I will certainly draw the hon. Lady’s remarks and concerns to the attention of the relevant Minister and make sure she gets a response.
Ms Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op)
I join others in wishing you, Mr Speaker, and the staff of the House a happy Christmas, and also wish a happy fifth night of Hanukkah to all those who are celebrating. May I also thank the shadow Deputy Leader of the House for reminding me of my favourite version of that Dickens classic, “The Muppet Christmas Carol”?
Qesser Zuhrah is currently undertaking a hunger strike. Understandably, her next of kin, who are my constituents, are very worried about her welfare and desperate for information about her current condition. As her MP, I have sought that information, because I believe that, whatever one may think of what someone who is incarcerated has done, welfare information is a reasonable thing for the next of kin to require. Will the Leader of the House give some advice and support on how we can improve the channels of communication with the Ministry of Justice in these circumstances, especially at this time of year and given some of the reporting of this issue, so that the next of kin can get accurate information? Will he also say whether we can have a debate on how we can support families in those situations?
Sir Alan Campbell
The welfare of prisoners and their families is of paramount importance to the Government. We continue to assess prisoners’ wellbeing and will always take the appropriate action when necessary. The Deputy Prime Minister has responded—in fact, in this House—and will continue to respond when appropriate, including through correspondence on these matters. As my hon. Friend points out, it is important that Members, on behalf of their constituents, are able to get the information that they require, and I will draw her comments to the attention of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Aphra Brandreth (Chester South and Eddisbury) (Con)
May I, too, wish you, Mr Speaker, your team and Members across the House a very merry Christmas?
Given the significant demand for new homes, my constituency has seen a large number of developments in recent years. However, some developers are building and selling homes, then moving on without completing the work, leaving residents in limbo, with roads unadopted and water companies unable to take on sewerage systems. Yet these developers continue to profit from building further on our green spaces. Developers such as Vistry Group, who do not attend meetings and rarely reply to correspondence, are failing residents in areas such as Saighton Camp and Wrenbury. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on this issue, so that Members across the House can consider mechanisms to hold those developers to account?
Sir Alan Campbell
I invite the hon. Lady to seek a debate in the new year on these matters, which have been raised in business questions and elsewhere on a number of occasions. I would have expected local planning authorities to take into account some of the situations that she described, as far as possible, when giving permission. The Government are absolutely clear about the difficulties of unadopted roads for people who move on to new estates, and we will be bringing forward proposals on how to hold developers to account.
Several hon. Members rose—
Sir Alan Campbell
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to Liz. Fifteen years is a wonderful achievement; clearly, she did a great job. Volunteers like Liz are the absolute backbone of our communities. It is right that they get a mention in this place and that we celebrate the work they do.
Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)
The child maintenance system presents a number of challenges for MPs. The fact that the Minister for the CMS is in the other place is one of those challenges, and it means that we have not debated the child maintenance system in Government time for some time. It is also a challenge from a Scottish perspective, because it does not seem to work properly with the Scottish process of sequestration, and there is no power to compel needed information. I have a constituent who is currently owed £40,000, despite the CMS’s involvement over five years. I commend the work of Fife Gingerbread and Fife Young Carers to promote awareness of the fact that, in Scotland, children themselves can apply for child maintenance support, which takes out some of the challenges in the system that we sometimes see. Given the challenges that I have outlined, will the Leader of the House schedule a debate in Government time so that we can talk about something that causes such sadness at Christmas, no matter what side of the parental divide people are on?
Sir Alan Campbell
I will certainly give the hon. Lady’s request due consideration. This is a question not just in Scotland, of course, but across the country, and many of our surgeries will be testaments to that. I will raise her concerns straightaway with the Department for Work and Pensions to see whether we can get an answer on some of those points. However, I gently point out to her that just because a Minister sits in the Lords does not mean that there is not also a responsible Minister in this place; it therefore ought to be the case that any statements can be made, or questions answered, in this place.
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)
Merry Christmas to you, Mr Speaker, all House staff and, in particular, my constituents, who keep re-electing me as their Member of Parliament.
Many of my constituents have again contacted me regarding British Sikh national Jagtar Singh Johal, who, according to the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention, has been arbitrarily detained in India since 2017. I know that many hon. Members across the House feel very strongly about this issue, and I personally have raised it on several occasions. Will the Leader of the House confirm what personal steps the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have recently taken with their Indian counterparts to ensure consular access and swift action on this grave issue?
Sir Alan Campbell
I praise my hon. Friend for raising this matter many times in this Chamber. We remain committed to working for faster progress on Mr Johal’s case, and the Foreign Office continues to support Mr Johal and his family. I can reassure my hon. Friend that the case has been raised directly with Prime Minister Modi, and we continue to raise concerns around Mr Johal’s prolonged detention with the Indian Government and to remind them of the need for a prompt resolution.
Bradley Thomas (Bromsgrove) (Con)
Leo, a 16-year-old boy in my constituency, has just received the best news that he could receive before Christmas. He is a leukaemia patient who has been searching for a donor to alleviate his cancer, and after a search in which 700 people came forward, he has finally found an anonymous donor. This is fantastic news. Will the Leader of the House join me in wishing Leo a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy new year? Will he also arrange for a statement in early 2026 on funding for leukaemia research and development?
Sir Alan Campbell
I certainly wish Leo well; it is great news that he is to get the treatment he needs. I also place on record our thanks to those who sign up to donate. Families, often in tragic circumstances, are faced with a decision and recognise that, out of that tragedy, some good news can come. I will certainly draw the hon. Gentleman’s remarks to the attention of the Health Secretary and see whether we can have a debate in the new year, because the issue is of such importance.
Tracy Gilbert (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab)
May I wish you, Mr Speaker, the team and colleagues across the House a very merry Christmas?
I have been contacted by a number of constituents who feel that they have been sacked by Rockstar, the company behind the game “Grand Theft Auto”, for using their right to organise in the workplace. Along with fellow Edinburgh MPs, I have met the company and will continue to support affected workers. Does the Leader of the House share my concerns over the dismissals? Given reports in The Scotsman that suggest that Rockstar claimed more than £70 million in tax relief through the video games tax relief scheme, will he raise the issue with the Chancellor and schedule an oral statement on the video games tax relief scheme?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for again raising this important issue, which is hugely important to her constituents. I reassure her that Ministers are currently looking at the case of these dismissals and will keep my hon. Friend updated. Should she seek a meeting with Ministers to put the case herself, I will arrange one.
Josh Babarinde (Eastbourne) (LD)
Merry Christmas to you, the House staff and the Doorkeepers, Madam Deputy Speaker. I want to say a massive thank you to Andy, Helen and other staff, as well as Mr Speaker, for facilitating my asking a very big question in Parliament a matter of weeks ago to my now fiancé. My question today is on behalf of the people of Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne, where thousands of homeowners are forced to pay hundreds of pounds a year for the maintenance of sea defences. This situation is an anomaly; in no other harbour in the UK—or, we think, in Europe—does such a charge exist. Will the Leader of the House grant a debate in Government time on the fairness and transparency of this arrangement, so that the people of Sovereign Harbour can get the answers and the justice that they deserve?
Sir Alan Campbell
I have to admit that even though I am a coastal MP, I have never come across that situation, although there are often historical anomalies that result in people being held responsible for such matters. I will certainly raise this question with Ministers on the hon. Gentleman’s behalf. We are acutely aware of the cost to homeowners of the buildings that they live in, and legislation that we are bringing forward will provide an opportunity to raise this, which I hope is an anomaly, and to do something about it.
Chris Webb (Blackpool South) (Lab)
My constituent, a senior NHS nurse and single mother of three, faces severe hardship because her ex-partner deliberately withholds financial support. She is solely responsible for her children’s care, yet the Child Maintenance Service has rejected her claim and failed to enforce the payment of arrears. With no payments coming in, she is forced to rely on food banks and to borrow from family just to get by this Christmas. This demonstrates systematic failings that leave vulnerable families unsupported. Will the Leader of the House allow time for a debate on the CMS system and its enforcement?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. The CMS has a range of enforcement powers to ensure that parents meet their financial responsibilities in full and on time. I understand that this will be a worrying time for his constituent and her family, and indeed for others across our country, so I will ensure that the relevant Minister writes to him as a matter of urgency. There is a pattern emerging here; this is the second time this matter has been raised this morning. We therefore need to give some consideration to how best to air these views more fully.
Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)
I have in my hand the tickets that my late father and I had for the 1966 world cup final. The price was £1 and five shillings, which I am sure the Leader of the House would acknowledge is better value than the ridiculous FIFA prices. Can he confirm that Ministers at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have made known their views and those of the Prime Minister, who has also been critical on this subject, to the Football Association, so that those views can be fed to the ridiculous organisation that is FIFA?
Sir Alan Campbell
I remind the House that the only time we have won the world cup was under a Labour Government. I will take up the hon. Gentleman’s point with DCMS. The reality is that the world is a different place now, when it comes to international football—in some ways for the better, but in many ways not. It is important that fans can access matches at a reasonable cost, so I will raise the matter with DCMS Ministers and see what representations they have made to FIFA on seeing sense on these matters.
Anna Dixon (Shipley) (Lab)
A very happy Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker. This weekend, Bingley’s Myrtle Park will host the closing event of Bradford 2025. I hope you will agree that it has been a fantastic year for Bradford, with so many brilliant events. There have been thousands across the whole district throughout the year, with audiences in the millions, since the opening ceremony, Rise, in Centenary Square back in a very chilly January. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating all those involved in making the city of culture year such a success, and grant time for a debate on the legacy of Bradford 2025?
Sir Alan Campbell
I am delighted that my hon. Friend has raised the matter of Bradford being the 2025 city of culture—I know this subject is close to your heart, Madam Deputy Speaker—and the fact that it has been a tremendous success. The city of culture programme has historically been a driver of local growth and pride. Next year, we look forward to not only cities of culture, but towns of culture. I am sure there will be an opportunity in the new year for my hon. Friend and others to debate these matters and see what further progress we can make.
David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish you, all Members and House staff a very merry Christmas and a guid new year, when it comes. I have the honour to represent one of the largest rural constituencies in the United Kingdom, where the ability to drive is essential for many, particularly at Christmas, when we want to get out and see family and friends. May we therefore have a debate in Government time on the operation of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and its associated agencies? Not only are there long delays for driving tests, and not only are rural test centres being overwhelmed by people from outside the area, but we now have significant delays for people with medical conditions who are applying to renew their driving licence.
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank the right hon. Member for his question. I agree with him about the importance of being able to drive, particularly in areas like his. The DVLA aims to process all applications as quickly as possible, but he will know from the National Audit Office report on driving tests, published this week, that the situation is far from acceptable, and delays can affect the lives of our constituents. I will therefore ensure that a Minister updates him on the steps that the Department for Transport is taking to ensure that the DVLA’s performance improves.
Barry Gardiner (Brent West) (Lab)
May the blessings of Christmas be with you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and all who serve in this place. Few of us can imagine the extraordinary difficulty of studying for university exams in a war zone, so I was delighted about, and commend the Government for, setting up the scholarship scheme for students from Gaza who won places at UK universities. These students—some of the brightest of their generation—will rebuild that war-torn place, but the Leader of the House will know that the scholarships scheme is due to end on 31 December, and there are still some students trapped in Gaza who need to be evacuated, with their children. Perhaps he could speak to the Home Secretary and ask her to set out, in good time, what provision she will make to ensure that those students and their children are not left behind, and to ensure that we honour the commitment we made to them by extending the scheme beyond the end of this month.
Sir Alan Campbell
Gazan students often face huge challenges in taking up their place, and we are carefully considering solutions for those yet to arrive. We want them to be able to take up their place, and to continue their education in the United Kingdom. It will be good for them, and good for our universities, too. I will ensure that my hon. Friend gets a response from the Home Secretary on this issue as a matter of urgency.
Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)
Madam Deputy Speaker, may I wish you, and indeed all Members across the House, a very happy Christmas? Like thousands of my constituents, I have recently been sending Christmas cards. May I use this opportunity to congratulate Leo from Oakworth on creating such an excellent design for my Christmas card this year?
I am sorry to say that hundreds of my constituents have raised their concerns about continued unacceptable delays in mail deliver. There has been partial or no delivery of mail, particularly in the Worth valley area, for months. It is resulting in missed doctors’ and hospital appointments, as well as in bills and urgent correspondence being missed. Can we have a debate in Government time on the importance of this issue, and ensure that Royal Mail is held to account?
Sir Alan Campbell
Again, that subject has been raised before in business questions, and I hope that Royal Mail has heard that, because it is a story repeated in many parts of the country. What the hon. Gentleman describes is not acceptable, not least if there is to be timely delivery of Christmas cards, but as he rightly points out, the issue affects things like hospital appointment letters, too. I will raise this with the appropriate Minister and ensure that Royal Mail is held to account.
Rachel Taylor (North Warwickshire and Bedworth) (Lab)
A very merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker. My constituent Sam is a fibre engineer. He spends his days climbing ladders, fixing lamp posts and repairing wi-fi for people across north Warwickshire. He has glycogen storage disease type Ia, which is a very rare liver disorder. Despite his GP and hospital consultant telling him that he should have a blood monitor to check his blood sugar levels, Coventry and Warwickshire integrated care board has refused to fund it. Sam has to pay for it himself, at a cost of £100 every month, so that he can continue working. Will the Leader of the House refer my constituent’s case to the Department of Health and Social Care, and enable a debate in Government time on NHS support for people living with rare conditions?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for raising such an important case. We are committed to improving the lives of those who, like Sam, have rare diseases. Integrated care boards have a responsibility to commission services to meet the needs of those in their care, so I will refer the case to the Department of Health and Social Care, and will ensure that my hon. Friend gets a meeting, if she wants one, to see what progress can be made on these matters.
Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)
Madam Deputy Speaker, may I wish you and all the staff in the Speaker’s Office a very merry Christmas, and may I thank you for all your kindness and courtesy throughout the past year? However, I must say to the Leader of the House that this Christmas, my constituents in Romford are increasingly afraid to walk through the town centre; reports of violent crime and street robbery are becoming a regular occurrence. Despite the huge precept that we pay to the Mayor of London—it is an average of £500 a year, per household—we simply do not get the police we pay for. Inner London always takes priority. Indeed, the whole Greater London region has become plagued with petty theft, shoplifting and violent crime, especially on Transport for London services. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on these pressing issues, which affect the daily life of my tax-paying, law-abiding constituents in Romford?
Sir Alan Campbell
The hon. Gentleman will know that the Government take this important matter seriously, and through the safer streets summer initiative, we applied additional resources. We are doing so in the winter as well, particularly for town centres, so there should be no excuse for inactivity on these matters, in the run-up to Christmas or beyond. Our commitment is absolutely to ensure increased numbers of police officers, because, quite frankly, we inherited a system that was chronically underfunded. We are bringing forward the police grant, which will be debated in the new year, and I encourage the hon. Gentleman to make his strong case during that debate.
Jen Craft (Thurrock) (Lab)
A merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to everyone who works in the House. [In British Sign Language: Merry Christmas.]
Last Sunday, I had the absolute pleasure of joining the Mar Dyke Valley Rotary club and volunteers from Re-engage on their annual Santa run through Aveley. I am assured that the Santa who accompanied us on the run is the real one—he is a constituent of mine, and he is open to suggestions about who should be on the naughty and nice lists—but Mar Dyke Valley is just one of the more than 1,000 Rotary clubs in the UK doing similar things up and down the country throughout the Christmas season, bringing festive joy to young children and raising thousands and thousands of pounds for local good causes. Will the Leader of the House join me in offering our thanks to all those who give up their time on cold wintry nights to go out and raise money for their local community?
Sir Alan Campbell
A Rotary Santa is certainly very much a part of Christmas tradition now. I join my hon. Friend in thanking volunteers for their fantastic work and generosity, particularly but not exclusively during the Christmas season. Rotary clubs play a really important part in our local communities across the country. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for championing them.
Clive Jones (Wokingham) (LD)
May I wish a very merry Christmas and a happy new year to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to everyone else who works in Parliament?
In my constituency, Wokingham in Need is an amazing local charity that provides support for homeless people and the most vulnerable. It does it all through volunteer-led projects. Most recently, it created a sensory garden for Wokingham hospital to provide much-needed respite for its patients and staff. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Wokingham in Need, and particularly its founder Sue Jackson, on receiving the King’s award for voluntary service this year?
Sir Alan Campbell
I will indeed. I congratulate Wokingham in Need and Sue Jackson on the award, which is an incredible achievement. I thank them for all their work, and I extend those thanks to volunteers across our country who are involved in similar good actions.
Rachel Hopkins (Luton South and South Bedfordshire) (Lab)
In Luton, the brilliant NOAH charity—New Opportunities and Horizons—is working to support those who are homeless or rough-sleeping, with food, meals, laundry and shower facilities 365 days a year. It will be a lifeline for many over the festive period, so will the Leader of the House join me in thanking all at NOAH, and indeed the volunteers and charities everywhere supporting those who are homeless and in need, particularly over the Christmas period?
Sir Alan Campbell
In my opening remarks, I paid tribute to charities in the homelessness sector. I repeat my thanks for their work, which they do throughout the year but which is particularly prominent during the Christmas period. Charities provide invaluable support to people experiencing homelessness. As I said earlier, we are backing them through the homelessness strategy. Our aim is to halve the number of long-term rough sleepers.
Peter Fortune (Bromley and Biggin Hill) (Con)
A merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Last month, at my surgery in Bromley, I spoke to my constituent Rhonda Josephs, whose 11-year-old son Alexander has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. His ongoing care is currently spread across five hospitals, leading to delays in communication between different teams and increased stress on Alexander and his family. My constituent feels that transferring her son’s care to Great Ormond Street, where everything can happen under one roof, would be the most sensible option. However, that has been rejected. Can we please have a debate on ensuring joined-up care in the NHS so that we do not see more such cases putting undue stress on patients, particularly young children, and their families?
Sir Alan Campbell
If the hon. Gentleman gives me the details of the case afterwards, I will certainly take it up with the Health Secretary, who takes these matters really seriously—not least because of his personal experience. One thing that is very clear is that communications across the NHS are not always joined up. One of the priorities of what the Secretary of State is trying to do is making sure that these situations do not arise in future.
Peter Prinsley (Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket) (Lab)
The Hanukkah murder of the Jews on Bondi beach has reverberated around the world. I shall go from here to sign a book of condolence at Australia House.
UK synagogues require security guards for religious services. If that were true of churches in the United Kingdom, it would be considered a national emergency. The oldest hatred has re-emerged in our times. This is not otherwise lawful protest against the actions of an elected Israeli Government. “Globalise the intifada” has only one meaning, as far as UK Jews such as myself are concerned, so will the Leader of the House provide Government time for a debate on antisemitism in the United Kingdom? Now is the time for action.
Sir Alan Campbell
We are all responsible for driving out antisemitism wherever it occurs, because it has no place in our society. The Government have invested an extra £10 million this year to strengthen security measures around synagogues and Jewish schools and have brought forward legislation in the Crime and Policing Bill to address the issue of protests outside places of worship. It is a priority for the Government; it is a personal priority for the Prime Minister, who feels very strongly about this. We are working very closely with the police to step up what they are doing and to give reassurance to people, particularly at Hanukkah events.
Dr Luke Evans (Hinckley and Bosworth) (Con)
This Saturday is the Hopkins Brothers Tractor Run. Dozens of tractors covered in lights will start in Barwell and go through Earl Shilton, Hinckley, Higham, Stoke Golding, Dadlington, Market Bosworth and Desford and past my house in Newbold Verdon. The run was set up by Liam after the tragic loss of his brother Kieran, who committed suicide in September 2022. Since then, it has raised more than £30,000 for Mind, and Liam won the Voluntary Action LeicesterShire fundraiser of the year award in October. Will the Leader of the House thank Liam for what he does, thank the farmers for putting on such a show for our community and encourage all my constituents to come out and see the lights this Saturday when they pass by?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank the hon. Member for raising such a worthy cause, an issue on which I know he has been a great campaigner. He will know that the Government take it seriously. In the men’s health strategy, we have set out what further steps we can take to tackle men’s mental health challenges. I wish the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Mind, Liam and the Hopkins Brothers Tractor Run the very best in their campaign, and I encourage everyone in the area to come out and support them, and to donate.
Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)
The excitement in the run-up to Christmas has been tempered this year by a particularly nasty outbreak of flu and respiratory syncytial virus. My one-year-old was very ill with RSV in recent weeks, and my husband and I had a real scare when our GP told us that he needed to be taken into hospital. After brilliant care in paediatric A&E, I am delighted to say that he is back to babbling at us and pushing everything with wheels around the house. It was another powerful reminder of the incredible care that our NHS staff give every single day of the year. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking the dedicated staff at West Midlands ambulance service and Walsall Manor hospital, and join me in wishing all our NHS staff a very merry Christmas?
Sir Alan Campbell
First of all, I extend my sympathies to my hon. Friend and his family. I am pleased that the news is getting brighter. I absolutely join him in thanking staff at West Midlands ambulance service and Walsall Manor hospital, and all our NHS staff for their lifesaving work over the holiday season at what is, with the flu outbreak, a particularly difficult time.
Dr Danny Chambers (Winchester) (LD)
Merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
One of the biggest issues I am contacted about in Winchester, by parents, schoolteachers, paediatricians and campaign groups, is children’s mental health, with particular reference to smartphones and social media. An emerging problem is the increased use of chatbots for mental health advice, especially by children who think that a chatbot is their friend or a cartoon character. That is causing some very dangerous outcomes.
The US has just brought forward the GUARD Act—Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2025—to regulate chatbots. Given that this is an emerging and urgent problem, will the Leader of the House consider providing Government time for a debate on the specific issue of chatbots? One third of adults have already used chatbots for mental health advice and therapy.
Sir Alan Campbell
The hon. Gentleman and the House will know that the Government take the matter of mental health, in particular children’s mental health, very seriously indeed, which is why we are looking to ensure that there is professional help in schools for them. He raises an issue and a specific point over which there is considerable debate. I suggest that I should arrange a meeting for him with Ministers, so he can expand on the points he has made. Following that, if the House seeks a debate we will see what we can accommodate.
Amanda Hack (North West Leicestershire) (Lab)
May I take this opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas, Madam Deputy Speaker?
It was a pleasure to join Ingles FC, a non-league club in North West Leicestershire, as it hosted the Premier League trophy last weekend. The Premier League has supported the club with a grant of £45,000 to install LED floodlights, as well as previously supporting a defibrillator. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking the Premier League for all the work it does to support grassroots football, as well as the volunteers at Ingles FC who keep the local club running week in, week out?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for her question and join her in recognising the fantastic support that the Premier League has provided to Ingles FC. I pay tribute to the volunteers—football clubs depend very much on the work of volunteers. The commitment is also from the Government to support clubs to improve environmental sustainability and reduce energy costs through Sport England’s movement fund. It is good to see that the resources are being wisely spent.
Matt Vickers (Stockton West) (Con)
The on-demand bus service, Tees Flex, is a vital lifeline for rural communities across Teesside, but Labour leaders have just voted to scrap it, leaving villages such as Sadberge and Bishopton without any buses, and cutting off elderly and vulnerable residents from being able to do their shopping, get to hospital appointments, or visit family and friends. Will the Leader of the House join me in condemning this terrible decision, and will he grant a debate on the importance of bus services to rural communities?
Sir Alan Campbell
I certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman on the importance of bus services—particularly in rural communities, where they are essential. I invite him to apply for an Adjournment or a Backbench Business debate, so he can raise these matters affecting his constituency. He might find common cause with others, particularly in rural areas.
John Slinger (Rugby) (Lab)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish you, all Members and everyone who works in this place a very happy Christmas. Unfortunately, I cannot bring any Christmas cheer with my question, since it relates to the slow progress of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the other place. Will the Leader of the House join me in reaffirming that this elected Chamber has primacy in all legislation? The Government of course remain neutral on that particular Bill, but does he agree that we cannot be neutral about that principle, and that what is happening risks damaging the reputation of our political process?
Sir Alan Campbell
This matter has been raised constantly in previous sessions, particularly more recently as what is happening in the other place has become clear. As I have said previously, nobody benefits from legislative deadlock. The other place has a duty and a responsibility to scrutinise legislation. It has the right to scrutinise legislation, clearly, but it has a duty and a responsibility, too. There are conventions about the way it does so, so I urge the other place to do everything it can to expedite these matters and respect the view—the clearly expressed view—of the elected Chamber.
Johanna Baxter (Paisley and Renfrewshire South) (Lab)
A very merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
My constituents would have been forgiven for thinking that Christmas had come early last weekend, because we were treated to not one, but two major sporting achievements. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Stephen Robinson and everyone at St Mirren football club for their historic achievement in winning the Scottish Premier Sports cup, after their 3-1 victory over Celtic, the first club in the UK to win a major trophy under fan ownership; and Johnstone Burgh FC on its excellent 2-0 victory over Renfrew in the Scottish Communities cup?
Sir Alan Campbell
I join my hon. Friend in congratulating St Mirren football club and Johnstone Burgh FC on their achievements. I hesitate to go further, because what I am quickly learning in this job is to tread carefully where the often tribal matters of local football are concerned.
Dan Aldridge (Weston-super-Mare) (Lab)
A very merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to everybody in this place.
In a historic win against Chelmsford on 6 December—it is another football success story—Weston-super-Mare football club, for the first time in our history, reached the third round of the FA cup. Like many Westonians, I am really excited to head to Grimsby in January with the fans to cheer on the Seagulls and to show my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes (Melanie Onn) how impressive our lads are on the pitch. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the whole Weston-super-Mare team, the club staff and the amazing fans who, through their long-standing support, have made this historic game possible?
Sir Alan Campbell
I certainly respect the huge achievement of getting through to the third round of the FA cup for the first time—a massive achievement. It is good that that is on the record. I wish both the Seagulls of Weston-super-Mare and the Mariners of Grimsby Town the best of luck when they come together for what will be a coastal derby in the new year. The fans, the team and the club staff are all part not just of a local game but a national game, and I congratulate them on that fantastic milestone. I wish both teams well. I wish everyone involved in seasonal matches across the country all the very best for this festive period.
Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)
Merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to all the House staff, everybody here and everybody who is not.
When asked to become a kinship carer for seven children, in addition to already having two of her own, my constituent and her partner stepped up because those seven children were being neglected. She was then told by social services, who had asked her to take the children on, that she was not entitled to kinship carer allowance, a decision it then changed months later but which left the family in dire financial straits. They are still waiting for back payments even now. They have used all their savings and now they are reliant on food banks. I am working on this case, but in the meantime will the Leader of the House grant an urgent debate on the need to ensure that those who step up to be kinship carers get the support they deserve?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for raising the work of his constituent and the importance of kinship carers, who are selfless in their attitude but do this work at considerable cost. That is certainly not helped by any delay in getting the support that they need. He has raised this matter with me before, and I apologise therefore that it has not been resolved, but I give him my word that I will take it up with the relevant Minister and make sure that he gets a reply to ensure that there is no delay in these matters. Perhaps in the new year, kinship care and payment delays would make a good topic for an Adjournment debate.
Luke Myer (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Lab)
Further to the question from the hon. Member for Stockton West (Matt Vickers), I share his disappointment at the scrapping of Tees Flex, but can I gently say to him that if the Tory Tees Valley Mayor took the buses into public hands, which this Government have given him the power to do, we would not have to fight over the scraps?
I ask my question on behalf of my constituents Rob from Loftus and Hilda from Skinningrove, who have raised with me their really poor experiences with contractors working on the ECO4 scheme. The Government are right to scrap the scheme, but can we secure time to discuss the quality and oversight of the work on such schemes to better serve the taxpayer and constituents like mine?
Sir Alan Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important matter, and I am very sorry to hear of his constituents’ experiences. The Government expect all ECO4 installations to meet strict quality and safety standards, and we continue to apply pressure on installers to take responsibility to fix issues and to not put the burden on individual consumers. Should he wish to apply for a debate on this matter, I am sure that the application would be well received.
Chris Murray (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab)
I wish everyone a very Murray Christmas.
The communities of Niddrie, Bingham, Magdalene and The Christians are fantastic places full of hard-working people who take pride in their community. Sadly, they have been let down by austerity in recent decades. Will the Leader of the House join me in strongly welcoming the £20 million that has been allocated to the area by the UK Government, and can we have a debate about how we will put local people in the driving seat to make sure that the money is spent in the best interests of the community?
Sir Alan Campbell
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in welcoming the Pride in Place funding, which his constituency and many others are receiving. The reality is that the previous Government let down local communities, and the Scottish Government are doing the same, despite the fact that they received the largest funding settlement since devolution. We, on the other hand, are giving constituents not only the investment but the powers that they need to make changes locally so that they can deliver on the real change they want to see in their local communities.
Alan Strickland (Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor) (Lab)
My constituents Mellissa and Nikita were left devastated a few months ago when their four-month-old puppy was mauled to death in the streets by XL bullies that had escaped from a nearby house. Nikita, who is just 18, needed hospital treatment for the serious wounds that she sustained in the attack. The family is campaigning to reduce the risk of further attacks like this around the country involving dangerous breeds. Will the Leader of the House help me meet the relevant Minister to discuss how the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is being implemented and whether there is more that the Government, police and other agencies can do to reduce the risk of such incidents happening in future?
Sir Alan Campbell
I am sorry to hear of the case that my hon. Friend raises. I wish the family well, Nikita in particular. We are committed to making sure that the XL bully ban is fully implemented and enforced. Owners of any breed of dog dangerously out of control are breaking the law. I will certainly ensure that my hon. Friend gets the meeting that he asked for.