Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Dave Doogan

Thursday 10th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is right to point out that chemistry makes a considerable contribution to our economy. As the House will know, the UK is a world leader in science, due in no small part to the quality of our teachers. On skills, we are committed to ensuring that young people are equipped for the future, including through new technical education pathways for science. If she wishes to look at the matter more broadly, she should perhaps consider applying for an Adjournment debate.

[Dave Doogan (Angus and Perthshire Glens) (SNP)]

Industrial hemp is at the forefront of innovation in agriculture, and my constituent Martin Cessford is a farmer at the forefront of that in Scotland. Hemp has great promise for industrial, health, climate and building applications. However, Martin has been thwarted at every turn by the Home Office and its absurd application of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as it relates to hemp products. With my help, he has made some progress, but his shipment, which is going to Germany for quality control testing, is now stuck in the Netherlands. I asked the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for help over a month ago, but have not heard anything. Might we have a debate in Government time on the tension between the Government’s need for growth and innovation and their Departments standing in the way of that, and will the Leader of the House use his good offices to give the FCDO a shake?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As a former Drugs Minister, I understand the complexity of this matter and the frustration involved, too. I will raise it with both the Home Office, which has responsibility for it, and the FCDO to see whether we can get clarity on the situation.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Dave Doogan

Thursday 4th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this matter and playing her part in ensuring that this issue is at the forefront of our minds. I also join her in thanking charities and organisations involved in these matters. As I said, the Government have introduced the HIV action plan, which is one of the most ambitious public health goals of our time. We will continue the success of the blood-borne viruses emergency department opt-out testing programme. We will trial HIV testing within the NHS app and improve awareness of HIV prevention for those at risk. As I said, it is important that we tackle the barriers to accessing treatment, such as stigma, discrimination and inequality. Not only are we making that commitment, we are putting investment behind it.

[Dave Doogan (Angus and Perthshire Glens) (SNP)]

Of the manifold carnival of basically lies that was the Vote Leave campaign, becoming £350 million richer a week was one of the principal lies. The sad reality, of course, is that we are £250 million a day worse off as a result of Brexit, which has forced the Chancellor to come after £66 billion of unreconciled revenue from the real economy. It was supposed to take back control but, well, this control does not feel very nice. It was supposed to stop immigration, but irregular immigration is through the roof. It was supposed to save the Tory party, but I give you exhibit A: the Tory Benches. Can we have a debate on Government time to get real about the catastrophic consequences of Brexit?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman will know that the Government’s position is to ensure that we get the best deal possible, working with our European partners. Many of the areas he talks about, quite frankly, have been hit negatively as a result of decisions which were democratically taken. It is important that we do everything we can to restore and to move on from that. Should he seek a Backbench Business debate, an Adjournment debate or even to contribute to the pre-recess Adjournment debate to raise these matters, I am sure that colleagues from across the House, actually, will share some of his concerns.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Dave Doogan

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for her tireless campaigning on this topic. As she knows, the Government are committed to reducing the number of lives lost to suicide, which remains the biggest killer of men under 50. We have announced investment in suicide prevention projects for men as part of the first ever men’s health strategy for England. Her concerns will be shared across the House, so I suggest that she call for a Westminster Hall debate.

[Dave Doogan (Angus and Perthshire Glens) (SNP)]

I do not understand the mindset of an absent parent who tries to renege on their financial responsibility to support their children. Nor, it seems, does the Child Maintenance Service, because one of the manifold issues with that service is that absent parents renege on payments —starting and stopping payments again and again—and the CMS resets the clock every time, meaning that the receiving parent has to start from the very beginning. Might we have a debate in Government time on the manifold issues with the CMS, to find a way forward for that deeply dysfunctional agency?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will draw the hon. Member’s comments to the attention of Ministers, because, as he will have heard, that is the second time the matter has been raised this afternoon. He may wish to initiate such a debate, because, as I suggested before, his concerns are shared across the House.