Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Alison Hume

Thursday 10th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Yes, I do—and, more importantly, so do the Government. Small and medium-sized enterprises are so important to our economy, and I praise Salt of the Earth for its work. I can assure the hon. Lady that it is no mean achievement to get a King’s award, so the business and the wider community should be very proud.

[Alison Hume (Scarborough and Whitby) (Lab)]

Boulby underground laboratory near Whitby is leading the race to host a massive international experiment to search for dark matter. However, the 40% cut to the lab’s operating budget proposed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council has created uncertainty about the Government’s continued support for the project. Will the Leader of the House facilitate a meeting with the responsible Minister to discuss these drastic cuts, and help to secure Boulby’s future as a world-leading centre for physics research?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this important matter on behalf of her constituents and the sector. The Government are investing £86 billion to drive scientific breakthroughs across the UK. We have a proud record of science in this country, and we intend to keep that lead. There will be science questions next week, but I am happy to facilitate a meeting with the relevant Minister to allow my hon. Friend to discuss her concerns in greater detail.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Alison Hume

Thursday 23rd April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As I have said, there may well be such an opportunity after the King’s Speech, when the Government will have more time for general debates, and I will certainly consider the hon. Gentleman’s request.

[Alison Hume (Scarborough and Whitby) (Lab)]

Last month, I was thrilled to see Scarborough rugby union football club crowned regional 2 north-east champions—the highest level in the club’s history. The club does brilliant work in the Scarborough community, with various teams for women and for rugby players of all levels. Will the Leader of the House join me in celebrating Scarborough RUFC’s historic victory and its vital contribution to Scarborough?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly join my hon. Friend in congratulating Scarborough RUFC on its success. Not only that club, but rugby clubs across our country are so important in local sports. Very often, they are at the heart of our local communities because, moving beyond the sport they play, they get involved in all sorts of other things, and I thank rugby clubs for everything they do.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Alison Hume

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. She is a fierce advocate for her constituents. I share her concerns about the use and abuse of the planning system that she described. Local authorities and the police have a range of powers to manage unauthorised encampments, and I understand from my hon. Friend the Planning Minister that we are tightening up the rules on these matters, but I am more than happy to facilitate the meeting that she requests.

[Alison Hume (Scarborough and Whitby) (Lab)]

Last summer, my constituency suffered the devastating Langdale moor wildfire. The local community, including farmers and businesses, stepped in to help firefighters battle the enormous blaze, which at its height covered 10 square miles. Unlike in the case of flooding, though, there is no clear route to Government grants for wildfire events. Does the Leader of the House agree that we need to look urgently at widening the farming recovery fund and flood recovery framework to cover wildfires?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter, and thank her local community for their work in tackling that devastating fire. We are funding a national resilience wildfire adviser so that we can increase resilience, and I will draw this matter to the attention of the relevant Minister. If my hon. Friend wishes to meet the relevant Minister and raise this example, I will try to facilitate that.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Alison Hume

Thursday 16th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Unfortunately, this is an all too familiar story. We are committed to cracking down on antisocial behaviour in our communities. As the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities set out yesterday, the pride in place programme will give communities the power to block unwanted shops, including vape stores and fake barbers. We are also bringing in new laws to crack down on dodgy vape shops through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently going through the Lords.

[Alison Hume (Scarborough and Whitby) (Lab)]

I recently had the pleasure of meeting the SBA Unity racing team from Scarborough University Technical College, which came third at the STEM Racing world finals in Singapore. The Scarborough team raised a whopping £30,000 to compete, while the teams from Germany and Australia that beat them had financial support from their Governments. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating students Jack, Mandy, Ryan, Billy and Joey on their outstanding achievement, flying the flag not just for Scarborough but for the UK?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank Scarborough’s SBA Unity racing team for its fantastic success and send my congratulations to the whole team. We know about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, so I will ensure that the Secretary of State for Education learns about the team’s success and reemphasise why this is a fantastic opportunity for young people.