Business of the House

Debate between Anneliese Midgley and Alan Campbell

Thursday 19th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will raise the hon. Gentleman’s concerns about which flags are flown and when—he is a doughty campaigner on that matter. I join him in wishing everyone a happy St Patrick’s day, and hope that they partied and enjoyed it. I have to say, his loneliness on the Reform Benches suggests that whenever his new colleagues party, they are somewhere else and he is never invited. But he is always welcome with us.

[Anneliese Midgley (Knowsley) (Lab)]

Capita’s management of the civil service pension scheme—the latest in a string of failures—is a total disaster. My constituents are dealing with errors and delays, and are struggling to make ends meet, yet we are rewarding Capita by handing it another multimillion-pound contract. Can we have a debate about preventing repeated awards to failing contractors, and upholding Labour’s manifesto commitment to the biggest insourcing programme in a generation?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that matter, which, as she will know, has been raised by other Members. The procurement process for that contract was undertaken prior to the recent issues with Capita and the civil service pension scheme. Our priority remains to ensure the continuity of service and value for money for the public. However, I acknowledge the Members’ concerns and will ensure that Ministers have heard my hon. Friend’s question.

Business of the House

Debate between Anneliese Midgley and Alan Campbell

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will start gently by saying that we are freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years. Great British Rail will bring train operators back into public ownership from next spring, reducing bureaucracy and increasing accountability. That will not necessarily satisfy the commuters that the right hon. Gentleman mentions, however. I will arrange a meeting with the Rail Minister so that the right hon. Gentleman can make those points directly.

[Anneliese Midgley (Knowsley) (Lab)]

After 14 years of Conservative austerity, councils like Knowsley have been left on the bones, with deep cuts and rising demand. I know that this Labour Government are committed to fixing a broken system and to funding councils based on their need. However, in Knowsley, where deprivation is driven by low incomes, the provisional local government settlement does not meet the real pressures that we face, so will the Leader of the House ensure that the concerns of Liverpool city region MPs, the mayor and council leaders are given serious consideration and lead to action so that the final settlement benefits constituencies like mine?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that matter not just on behalf of her constituency but for her region, championing the concerns of councils as well as of her constituents. The Government are making good on a long-overdue promise to update the way in which we fund local authorities. I can give her my assurance that Ministers are working very hard indeed to ensure that—within the limits of what we can do—councils get the resources that they require. I will ensure that the relevant Minister is made aware of her concerns.