Business of the House

Debate between Chris Murray and Alan Campbell

Thursday 29th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is right to raise that concerning issue today, and the fact that it goes back to 2003 adds greater urgency to it. We recognise the significant concern that unresolved payment issues can cause for providers, so I am happy to try to facilitate a meeting between him and the relevant Minister, so that he can raise the case further.

[Chris Murray (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab)]

Bonfire night can be difficult in Edinburgh, and previous years have seen serious disruption and pretty terrifying antisocial behaviour in Niddrie and Craigmillar. I have been working closely with the police for months and with the Hays Community Hub, Sandy’s Community Centre and many other groups across Craigmillar and Niddrie to keep disruption this year to a minimum, backed by £20 million from the UK Government’s Pride in Place funding. Will my right hon. Friend support a debate on how we back community organisations to tackle antisocial behaviour around bonfire night?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this matter, which will resonate with Members across the House. It is often raised with me at this time of year, and I commend him for the work he is doing in his local community. The Government are looking at the matter that he raises. The consultation on reforming fireworks and pyrotechnic legislation received a very high number of responses, not surprisingly. The Government are currently considering the evidence and will respond in due course. At that point, I am sure there will be ample opportunity to discuss this matter further.

Business of the House

Debate between Chris Murray and Alan Campbell

Thursday 12th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As I have said from this Dispatch Box before, the House of Lords needs to be very much aware and should respect the fact that this House has not just once, but twice supported the assisted dying Bill: on Second Reading and Third Reading. The other place should certainly bear that in mind. I do not happen to be of the view that the Lords’ scrutiny is not important, but the way they go about it is important. If there is a warning behind what the hon. Gentleman says, it might be “be careful what you wish for”; if the Lords go down the route described by the hon. Gentleman, they may open up a wider debate about that House that they would need to take seriously. I commend him and others for continuing to raise these matters. As I have said, the Bill in question is not a Government Bill, but if it comes back, I will find time to see how can progress it. This is a timely warning to their lordships that they need to get on with it.

[Chris Murray (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab)]

Craigmillar is a brilliant area, but it is blighted by fly-tipping. One site just off the high street beside Craigmillar library, owned by Keyworkers Living Ltd, lies waste to litter and abandoned cars, and is a fly-tipping hotspot. In England, the Labour Government are cracking down on fly-tipping, but the SNP Scottish Government have cut the budget for Edinburgh city council so much that it is the lowest funded per head local authority in Scotland. Can we have a debate in Government time about how we can tackle fly-tipping in Craigmillar and get the Scottish Government to fund our council properly?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend raises an important matter. Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities. We are giving councils powers to crush the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers and bringing in new prison sentences of up to five years for those who transport waste illegally. The Scottish Government have been given the biggest funding settlement since devolution, and I suggest they take more seriously the matter raised by my hon. Friend.

Business of the House

Debate between Chris Murray and Alan Campbell

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important matter, and I am very sorry to hear of his constituents’ experiences. The Government expect all ECO4 installations to meet strict quality and safety standards, and we continue to apply pressure on installers to take responsibility to fix issues and to not put the burden on individual consumers. Should he wish to apply for a debate on this matter, I am sure that the application would be well received.

[Chris Murray (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab)]

I wish everyone a very Murray Christmas.

The communities of Niddrie, Bingham, Magdalene and The Christians are fantastic places full of hard-working people who take pride in their community. Sadly, they have been let down by austerity in recent decades. Will the Leader of the House join me in strongly welcoming the £20 million that has been allocated to the area by the UK Government, and can we have a debate about how we will put local people in the driving seat to make sure that the money is spent in the best interests of the community?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I absolutely join my hon. Friend in welcoming the Pride in Place funding, which his constituency and many others are receiving. The reality is that the previous Government let down local communities, and the Scottish Government are doing the same, despite the fact that they received the largest funding settlement since devolution. We, on the other hand, are giving constituents not only the investment but the powers that they need to make changes locally so that they can deliver on the real change they want to see in their local communities.