Business of the House

Bob Blackman Excerpts

Thursday 12th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I call the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

I thank the Leader of the House for mentioning the stabbing at Kingsbury high school. The good news is that the two children who were stabbed are in a stable condition, and the suspect has now been charged with multiple charges, including attempted murder. The police investigation is clearly ongoing, and we cannot comment on it any further.

I thank the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine) for stepping into the breach at very short notice when the previous debate that the Backbench Business Committee had allocated for Thursday 26 February was withdrawn.

As the Leader of the House has mentioned, estimates day debates are coming up on 4 March. We are open for business for applications by a week tomorrow; we will then decide which debates will be allocated time.

When we return, the business in Westminster Hall will be as follows. On 24 February, there will be a debate on Government support for healthcare systems in Gaza. On Thursday 26 February, there will be a debate on Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2026, followed by a debate on the impact of VAT on independent faith schools. On 3 March, there will be a debate on strengthening community cohesion. On 5 March, there will be a debate on the importance of local museums, followed by a debate on World Book Day.

When we return on 23 February, it will be the third anniversary of the hunger strike by Vahid Beheshti outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He has had terrible privations as a result of this hunger strike, and no Foreign Office Minister in either the previous Government or the current Government has even had the courtesy to visit him. Given the circumstances in Iran, with more than 30,000 civilians being murdered by the tyrannical regime, Vahid has been calling for the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for the last three years. Can the Leader of the House arrange for a Minister to at least meet Vahid so that he can convey his reasons for carrying out this hunger strike?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, as ever, for his update and for the excellent work of the Backbench Business Committee. It is good news that the young people affected in his constituency are on the road to recovery. Of course, it is right that the police get on with their investigation. I hope that the law takes its course and that people are held to account.

With regard to the hon. Gentleman’s constituent, I am aware that it is the third anniversary. He knows that we have already sanctioned over 550 organisations and individuals, including designations against the IRGC. The Foreign Secretary has said that there will be full and further sanctions, where required. We keep this matter under review. I also take into account what he has said about his constituent. All I can say is that I will draw that to the attention of Ministers. I hope they will have heard what he has said; it is a decision for them.