Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Aphra Brandreth

Thursday 12th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

This issue often arises, and I understand the concern of residents. I, too, use a bank app, but other people do not; those people look for a presence on the high street, not just from the perspective of convenient banking but because of the importance of our high streets. I encourage my hon. Friend to seek a debate on this matter, perhaps in Westminster Hall, and I am sure he will find others who want to join him.

For their part, the Government have set a target of 350 banking hubs. Most of those hubs have already been rolled out, but that is not the extent of our ambition—we want to go further. I know from the one in my constituency, in Whitley Bay, that those hubs are very popular.

[Aphra Brandreth (Chester South and Eddisbury) (Con)]

With World Book Day coming up on Thursday 5 March, I have launched a short story competition for primary school pupils across Chester South and Eddisbury, encouraging them to go all-in and use their imagination through reading and creative writing. At a time when children are spending more and more time on phones and screens, fostering a love of books, storytelling and creativity is more important than ever, so will the Leader of the House join me in encouraging children across Chester South and Eddisbury to take part in that competition and in encouraging everyone to get involved in celebrating World Book Day?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly join the hon. Lady in celebrating World Book Day, and commend her for the approach she is taking in her constituency. It is vital that children get access to books, which is why we are promoting libraries, particularly in schools. The hon. Lady will also be aware that we are launching a consultation on social media, and I am sure that the amount of time children spend on social media on their phones rather than with a good book in their hands is one of the factors that will be taken into consideration.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Aphra Brandreth

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[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.