Business of the House

Debate between Dawn Butler and Alan Campbell

Thursday 25th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. As he rightly acknowledges, it is a question of balance, but in that balance, the safety of children is paramount. He may wish to seek an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate on this, so that he can make his case, because I am sure his concerns will be shared by a number of colleagues from across the House.

[Dawn Butler (Brent East) (Lab)]

In Brent, the support staff at Woodfield school face a cut in hours that equates to a cut of about £4,000 in their wages. The school is suggesting that it will fire and rehire them. The staff are on strike. The National Education Union is trying to negotiate, in order to save services, terms and conditions and jobs. Will the Leader of the House support me in ensuring that issues to do with special educational needs and disabilities funding do not jeopardise the care of children, or the terms and conditions of support staff?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am sure that this matter is of real concern to my hon. Friend’s constituents, and she knows the Government’s position on fire and rehire. She will know that we are committed to funding SEND properly, but if there are instances where that is having a real detrimental effect on an area, I can arrange for a meeting with the relevant Minister for her.

Business of the House

Debate between Dawn Butler and Alan Campbell

Thursday 11th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman raises an important matter. I know that Royal Mail listens closely to these sessions, and I hope that it has heard what he has said this morning. The Business and Trade Committee has previously called Royal Mail into Parliament over its performance, and I know that the Secretary of State takes these matters very seriously. I hope that Royal Mail is listening, and if the hon. Gentleman seeks a meeting with the relevant Minister to make his points, I will help him to arrange it.

[Dawn Butler (Brent East) (Lab)]

I have been working with the Met police on stolen mobile phones. We are making some progress, but the mobile phone companies need to be held to account. The Met commissioner is now calling on the Government to introduce legislation to ensure that mobile phone companies implement a kill switch so that mobile phones, once stolen, are not valuable. Will the Leader of the House make time for us to discuss this matter and pursue legislation?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

There are important developments in this matter. The Met police are working with the mobile phone companies, because they are absolutely crucial in supporting the delivery of this endeavour, and I am sure they want to make it less worthwhile for people to steal phones. I will raise the matter with the relevant Minister and see if we can get an update for the House on what the plan is, and on what further measures we can introduce.

Business of the House

Debate between Dawn Butler and Alan Campbell

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dawn Butler (Brent East) (Lab)]

Happy new year to you, Mr Speaker, and to all of the staff.

In common with my neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Brent West (Barry Gardiner), I have a constituent who I would like to talk to the Leader of the House about. The Chair of the Backbench Business Committee mentioned today’s very worrying report about the Met police. In addition, the Met informed me last year that only half of its police are on the Met’s DNA database, when that should be 100%. Can that be included in the investigation? As well as a statement, can we have a debate on this issue in Government time?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will ensure that the Home Secretary has heard my hon. Friend’s remarks about the extent of the investigation and I will see whether her concerns can be addressed. As I have already said, once that investigation is concluded, I am sure that the Home Secretary will want to find time to update the House and, if necessary, have a debate on the subject.

Business of the House

Debate between Dawn Butler and Alan Campbell

Thursday 23rd October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As someone with a constituency in the area covered by the fantastic Northumbria NHS trust, I am not surprised that the hon. Member’s constituents would rather be served by it than by the authority where they live. We have delivered Scotland’s largest settlement since devolution. At its heart, this is about getting the health service right north of the border, with that money spent properly.

[Dawn Butler (Brent East) (Lab)]

I thank the Leader of the House for holding the Black History Month debate in Government time. The recent Government consultation on closing the ethnicity pay gap is important. The GMB’s report shows that there is a pay gap in Parliament. Will he help me to push forward action plans so that we can close it?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Yes, we will ensure a full right to equal pay for ethnic minorities in law, and we will introduce mandatory ethnicity pay reporting for larger employers to help close the pay gap and to support my hon. Friend’s campaign.