Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Jess Asato

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will. This issue is really important for many communities, and I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the example from his constituency. Community gardens are important to bring communities together, and often for people’s mental health, so it is great that he has brought the issue to the Floor of the House. I join him in thanking the community gardens movement.

[Jess Asato (Lowestoft) (Lab)]

I am delighted that next week a new 107 bus will serve residents in the Gunton area of Lowestoft, following representations that I made to First Bus. However, many of my constituents rely on the No. 99 to get to and from the town centre, and from Monday to Saturday the last bus home leaves at 5.40 pm, closing off our town to tourists. Will the Leader of the House find time for a debate on the impact of buses on local growth and regeneration?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I hope that decision makers in bus companies in my hon. Friend’s constituency have heard her passionate support for the right of her constituents to have decent public transport. Local public transport should be designed with the interests of the local people it serves in mind, and I hope that should this issue arise in future, such campaigns will be successful. Our landmark Bus Services Act 2025, which became law earlier this week, puts power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Jess Asato

Thursday 11th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will commit to making the Prime Minister aware of what the right hon. Gentleman has asked, and I hope that will be heard when the President visits. Given the right hon. Gentleman’s experience and voice, I am pretty sure that message will be heard loud and clear.

[Jess Asato (Lowestoft) (Lab)]

One of the concerns that my constituents in Lowestoft raise is the closure of our public toilets due to the local council’s redevelopment of our old Wilko site. I am concerned that older and disabled residents in particular are being dissuaded from spending their time and money in our town centre’s shops due to fear of being caught short. I recently met the British Toilet Association, and I learned that in the US there is a national standard of one toilet for every 10,000 people. I therefore ask the Leader of the House whether we can have a debate in Government time on the need for more toilets on our high streets.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I could not agree more about the importance of the availability of toilets in our town centres. I am sure that issue comes to MPs’ attention very often. For many people—particularly those with complex needs or health conditions—the lack of a toilet can be the deciding factor in whether they leave the house. As the issue is clearly one for so many colleagues across the House, I think it would be a great topic for a Westminster Hall debate.