Business of the House

Al Pinkerton Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Government committed to cutting violence against women and girls in our VAWG strategy published last year. We recognise that a cross-Government approach is essential and are embedding this mission into every corner of public life, but I will raise my hon. Friend’s concerns with the relevant Minister.

[Dr Al Pinkerton (Surrey Heath) (LD)]

Frimley Park hospital in my constituency is due to be rebuilt as part of the Government’s new hospital programme, but it has recently transpired that the cost of upgrading vital local transport infrastructure has been neither costed nor budgeted for. The National Audit Office shares my concerns about escalating costs and slipping delivery times. I was told that the costs would have to come from a contingency fund for the scheme. Given that the scheme needs to be credible and command public support, can we have an urgent debate on this issue so that errors are not hardcoded into the process?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman rightly raises the investment that the Department of Health and Social Care intends to put into his local community, but he is right that it relates to more than just that Department because there are issues around transport. I will arrange a meeting for him with the relevant Minister, should he seek one, to see whether we can resolve this.