Business of the House
Debate between Alan Campbell and Shaun Davies(4 days, 10 hours ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
That is quite a bid, Mr Speaker— I have not heard that one before. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his work and the work of the Committee and for updating us on the business.
The hon. Gentleman mentioned the Standing Orders. As he knows, we are bringing forward a number of Standing Orders relating to the work of his Committee. I made a commitment that we would do that before the end of this Session, and we are committed to sticking with that. I cannot tell him the exact day, but I am committed to doing that, so that is what we will do.
I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on the way in which he got his private Member’s Bill through this place, because it was quite an achievement. I am sorry to hear that the Act has not yet had the anticipated effect. I know that he remains an assiduous campaigner on these matters—I think he has met Ministers and continues to press them. I cannot guarantee him Government time, so I hope that you will listen carefully to his plea, Mr Speaker, and then he can hear directly from the relevant Minister about what the plan is. In the meantime, I will take it up with the Minister because, as the hon. Gentleman points out, his concern is shared by Members across the House.
Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)
This week, Telford experienced a major fuel tanker fire near a primary school in Newdale, which affected many children, families and staff. I thank Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service for its swift action, together with other blue light services. In particular, I thank Rachel Cook, the headteacher of Newdale primary school, I thank the children for their fast action, and I thank the community for the way in which it rallied around those children to get them away from danger, including PureGym, the Grazing Cow public house, Lawley village academy, Lawley nursery and Morrisons. Can we have a debate in Government time on the importance of community resilience, and will the Leader of the House join me in thanking everybody for supporting that community effort to ensure that those children were safe?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to bring this matter to the House, and I join him in congratulating and thanking everyone who supported the response to the fire and ensured the safety of the local community, including Miss Cook and all the others he mentioned. The contribution of emergency first responders has been raised with me on a number of occasions, and I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster Hall debate, where I am sure others will join him, so that he can raise these matters in greater detail.
Business of the House
Debate between Alan Campbell and Shaun Davies(3 weeks, 4 days ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
Our Bus Services Act 2025 is letting local leaders in communities like my hon. Friend’s take back control of services. I join him in encouraging his constituents to complete his survey and make sure that their voices are heard. I also recommend that he applies for what I am sure will be a popular Westminster Hall debate.
Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)
There are 461 looked-after children in Telford and the Wrekin, and I want to see every one of them given the care, support and opportunities that they need to thrive. I am grateful to the organisations large and small, and the residents across Telford, who have helped me in my efforts to deliver an Easter egg to every looked-after child in Telford. They include Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Housing Plus Group, Sophie’s Sweetcheeks, Dawley Social Club, the Outpost and many more. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking these organisations, wish every child in care across our country a happy Easter, and grant Government time for a debate on corporate parenting?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend describes how strong his local community is; people there are coming together to make sure that looked-after children get the support that they need. That is certainly the hope and intention of this Government. I thank everybody involved in those efforts, and I wish them a happy Easter. When we return, I will certainly give consideration to my hon. Friend’s request.
Business of the House
Debate between Alan Campbell and Shaun Davies(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
Before I go on to agree with much of what the hon. Gentleman has said, let me begin by disagreeing with the position his party takes on discussions around tax, particularly business tax. It is quite simple: we cannot wish for the end without also supporting the means. That is simple and straightforward, as far as I am concerned.
As the hon. Gentleman says, youth unemployment is too high, but youth employment is also at a record high. I join him, however, in what he says about every young person deserving a chance to succeed. We are introducing a range of reforms to help young people take that vital step into the workplace. The fact is that young people were forgotten by the previous Government, and we are clearing up their mess.
The youth guarantee will help young people get into work, with 50,000 new training and workplace opportunities in sectors that include construction, health and social care, and hospitality provided to young people on universal credit to help them develop their job skills and employer networks, along with a CV and interview coach. Fifty-five thousand young people will gain from a Government-backed guaranteed job, which will roll out this spring, and we are also expanding Youth Hub centres, where young people can receive vital help to get them back on track. That will be in every area of the country, bringing the total to over 360.
Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)
Shrewsbury and Telford hospital NHS trust today came out of special measures for the first time since 2018. The community, the staff, the leadership of the trust and I know that there is far more to do, but this is a vital step and the hard work required should not be underestimated. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking the frontline NHS staff for their hard work? A lot has been done, but there is more to come.
Sir Alan Campbell
I certainly join my hon. Friend in thanking the staff at Shrewsbury and Telford hospital trust, which has come out of special measures. That is testament to their dedication and hard work. Our plan for change is getting the NHS back on its feet, but we recognise that there is further to go. NHS staff are a vital part of that.
Business of the House
Debate between Alan Campbell and Shaun Davies(3 months ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise these matters, which are of huge concern. I pay tribute to him and to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for doing so consistently and continually. I cannot promise him a debate in Government time, but should he seek an Adjournment debate, or indeed a Backbench Business debate, I am sure he will find support across the House.
Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)
Residents across Telford and wider Shropshire are reporting long delays for Royal Mail delivery, including my constituent Ed Pritchard, who is waiting for urgent information from the NHS. Posties have contacted me privately to tell me that they have been ordered not to deliver post and to prioritise parcels. Will the Leader of the House ask the Minister responsible to give an urgent statement to the House so that we can get Royal Mail to deliver to Telford, Shropshire and other affected areas of the country?
Business of the House
Debate between Alan Campbell and Shaun Davies(5 months, 4 weeks ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
I hear what the hon. Gentleman says because, as he acknowledges, we have some powerful advocates for Cornwall on the Government side of the House. I will make sure that Ministers are aware of that request and see what we can achieve.
Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)
Across Telford, residents and businesses tell me that they are not getting reliable 5G connections for broadband or their mobile phones, despite the fact that surrounding towns and cities do. Some tell me that getting even a 3G or 4G signal is a real challenge. Can we have a debate in Government time about the importance of digital connectivity for economic growth and access to public services, and what more can be done to connect Telford?
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is a strong advocate for his area and rightly puts this in the context of not just his constituents’ frustrations but the importance of economic growth. I suggest he seeks a Backbench Business debate or an Adjournment debate, so that he can raise the concerns directly with a Minister.