Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Emma Foody

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important matter. I want to associate myself with the words of the Security Minister on Tuesday, and provide absolute assurance about the seriousness with which the Government take these matters. There are statutory obligations on telecom providers to maintain the availability of services, and we will ensure that we draw the right lessons from the response. I will certainly ask Ministers to meet my hon. Friend as a matter of urgency.

[Emma Foody (Cramlington and Killingworth) (Lab/Co-op)]

I have been working with local people living in Places for People properties at Kirkwood in Burradon, Hadrian Court in Killingworth and Beaconhill in Cramlington. We have had significant problems with repairs in those properties, and we are not talking about minor inconveniences. In one case, a property had a missing window for four months; in another, water was coming in from the ceiling for more than a year; and in another, a bathroom leak was unresolved after five years. Can we please have a debate on social housing repairs and oversight of housing providers?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sorry to hear about the issues that my hon. Friend raises, and I hope that Places for People has heard her comments and raises its game. No resident should be left waiting a long time for repairs to their home, and I think this matter in general would be a popular topic for a Westminster Hall debate, should she wish to apply for one.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Emma Foody

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

If the hon. Lady gives me further details on that case, I will ensure that it is raised with the appropriate Department to see what else can be done to assist. The Government believe that political matters or faith matters, even though we may disagree with them, should never mean that people are threatened or attacked. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office raises these concerns regularly where necessary with countries and Governments across the world. I will ensure that she gets a response if she lets me have the details.

[Emma Foody (Cramlington and Killingworth) (Lab/Co-op)]

During Parliament Week last year, I had the absolute privilege of going along to Seaton Delaval first school and meeting the year 3 and year 4 classes to receive a grilling—it has to be said. They asked some excellent questions. Since then, the pupils have got in touch to raise a range of issues, including the environment, vaping, schools, the NHS and social media and its impact on young people. Especially as the Leader of the House is a former teacher, does he agree how important it is that we ensure young people have a stake in our politics and feel that their voices are heard when we discuss these important issues?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I pay tribute to the staff and pupils at Seaton Delaval first school for their hard work, and thank my hon. Friend for her question. It is important that young people are at the heart of decisions that affect their lives; that is why we recently published the national youth strategy, and it is why we are committed to extending the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, but also to making sure that they are equipped with knowledge about how voting works and about their role as voters. My hon. Friend may wish to attend Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government questions on 12 January to learn more about our work to ensure that young people are equipped and empowered to participate in democracy.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Emma Foody

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[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.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Emma Foody

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will certainly find out from the relevant Department what the circumstances might be at the prison. Of course, we would all want the guidelines to state that prisoners have access to books, but I am not sure what the individual circumstances might be at the prison. I am not going to comment any further on that, but I will draw it to the attention of Ministers.

[Emma Foody (Cramlington and Killingworth) (Lab/Co-op)]

Last month, the cold snap in my patch saw local residents on new estates struggling with icy roads and pavements. I took their concerns to developers, and I am pleased to see that grit bins have now been installed. This may all sound trivial, but not to residents on these estates, and it highlights the importance of the consultation that the Government are holding on greater protections for those living on unadopted estates. Will the Leader of the House please ensure that we have time in this place to discuss these matters?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I know that my hon. Friend is a great campaigner for her constituency. I can assure her that these are not trivial matters, and I congratulate her on getting developers to take this matter seriously and to provide residents with the grit bins they want. That is not an easy achievement, and she should be commended for it. As she points out, unadopted roads can cause a range of issues for residents, and we are consulting on how to speed up and simplify the process for the adoption of roads. She may wish to raise the matter in an Adjournment debate, but when the Government have something to say on these matters, we will bring forward our findings.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Emma Foody

Thursday 27th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As the hon. Lady will know, the Government are committed to bringing forward measures to address those issues. When we do so, there will be ample time to debate the points that she raises.

[Emma Foody (Cramlington and Killingworth) (Lab/Co-op)]

Tomorrow, Tony Wright, my constituent and the founder and chief executive officer of Forward Assist, a local veterans charity, is retiring. Tony is a veteran and trained social worker, and he has provided support and advocacy for veterans across the region and the country for well over a decade. It is no exaggeration to say that the tireless work and research that he has led has changed and saved lives. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking Tony and wishing him all the best in his retirement?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will take great pleasure in doing so. I have had the honour of knowing Tony Wright. As I said to him recently, his work has improved people’s lives for the better, including the lives of people he will never have met. I am sure that many Members across the House will not only wish Tony the best and thank him for his work, but acknowledge the impressive veterans in their own constituencies who, like Tony, do such fantastic work on behalf of the veteran community—indeed, on behalf of the whole community. These sessions are a good opportunity to highlight that work, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for doing so.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Emma Foody

Thursday 23rd October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Government believe that rural crime is a huge problem and are determined to act, which is why we set up the rural crime strategy and announced new funding for the national rural crime unit. We published the Government’s response to the call for evidence, which outlines the scope of the secondary legislation needed to implement the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act, on 17 October, and we aim to introduce the secondary legislation in Parliament this year. There will be opportunities for the hon. Gentleman to raise his very valid concerns.

[Emma Foody (Cramlington and Killingworth) (Lab/Co-op)]

Every year thousands gather for safe organised firework displays. However, this time of year also brings dread for many due to antisocial and inconsiderate firework use, as we have heard. It causes misery and distress for animals, and many vulnerable and elderly people. I welcome the earlier comments from the Leader of the House on this issue, but can we have a debate on the regulation of fireworks outside of formal displays to minimise their impact on people and animals, and to ensure that they are sold and used responsibly?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend and constituency neighbour is an excellent advocate for her constituency, and I thank her for raising this issue. As we have already heard, it is of concern not just to our constituents but to Members across the House. Councils and the police have powers to protect the public from misuse and harm, but it is up to this House to make the case as to whether those powers represent the full extent needed. I would ask my hon. Friend to apply for a debate so that those issues can be explored—perhaps in Backbench Business time.