Business of the House

Chris Webb Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sure the whole House sends its best wishes for a full recovery to everyone injured in the incident in my hon. Friend’s constituency. I join her in thanking the emergency services for their swift response.

Turning to banking hubs, we have rolled out 230 banking hubs and are working with the industry to open 350 by the end of this Parliament. The Government commissioned the independent review on access to banking services in May and will publish the findings of that in due course.

[Chris Webb (Blackpool South) (Lab)]

Blackpool is ranked second nationally for abandoned buildings. I know that the Leader of the House, as a fellow coastal MP, sees and feels at first hand the impact of derelict and empty properties on towns like ours. The £1.35 million that the Government have given Blackpool from the derelict buildings fund will build on the work of the council’s empty properties taskforce, launched earlier this year by the council’s leader, Lynn Williams. I want residents and business to help us shape what we prioritise. Will my right hon. Friend join me in encouraging residents to complete my survey so that we can take their priorities directly to Blackpool council’s empty properties taskforce in two weeks?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As a coastal MP, I absolutely understand what my hon. Friend is saying about empty properties, which are a concern everywhere but take on a particular significance in coastal towns. I am delighted about the funding that he has secured for Blackpool; he is a doughty campaigner for that fantastic town. I certainly encourage his constituents to complete the survey, which will help put power back in the hands of local people, who, after all, know best.