Business of the House

Debate between Douglas Lumsden and Alan Campbell

Thursday 3rd September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is a real champion for her area, and I pay tribute to her for that. I absolutely join her in congratulating the Oxleathers pub on being shortlisted for the Pub Aid community pub hero award. Pubs bring our local communities together. I encourage her to seek a Westminster Hall debate, because I know that pubs are of importance to Members across the House.

[Douglas Lumsden (Aberdeen South) (Con)]

During recess, I had the pleasure of visiting the Counselling House charity in my constituency, which is doing excellent work providing mental health counselling to young people and families, free at the point of use. That is against a backdrop of savage cuts from the SNP-run Aberdeen city council. Could we have a debate in Government time on the important issue of young people’s mental health, and how we can move it on to a more sustainable footing?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman will know that this is a really important matter for the Government, and we are making progress in all sorts of ways, but I accept that there is further progress to be made. He may wish to apply for either a Backbench Business or Westminster Hall debate, though the Government do update the House when necessary on these matters. On services not being properly funded by the SNP Government, I repeat what I have said before: the SNP Government have had the best settlement ever, and it is just not appropriate for them to not fund services of such critical importance to his constituents.

Business of the House

Debate between Douglas Lumsden and Alan Campbell

Thursday 9th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I congratulate Ayrshire college on its well-deserved award. We are committed to creating a skilled workforce that is fit for the future and aligned with local needs, with our £182 million industrial strategy and engineering skills package. Should my hon. Friend wish to apply for a debate on this subject in Westminster Hall, I am sure that it would be well attended; the shadow Leader of the House, for instance, does fantastic work on these issues in his constituency.

[Douglas Lumsden (Aberdeen South) (Con)]

Crooked SNP chief Peter Murrell had his hand in the SNP piggy-bank to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds; he bought camper vans, crockery, and even toilet paper. We now learn that Police Scotland is also probing the Yes Scotland movement. Will the Leader of the House bring forward a debate, in Government time, on the financing of the SNP and the independence movement?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As I have said before, the SNP should come clean on these matters, and authorities should hold it to account. The hon. Member talks about an investigation that is under way, and I will not comment on that. We will debate these matters in the future, but let us await the outcome of the investigations.

Business of the House

Debate between Douglas Lumsden and Alan Campbell

Thursday 2nd July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend raises some interesting concerns, particularly around transparency, and he rightly points out that building societies are a vital and growing part of our economy. I suggest that he should seek an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate so that he can hear directly from a Minister how his concerns might be addressed.

[Douglas Lumsden (Aberdeen South) (Con)]

EnQuest has just announced that jobs will be lost at the Sullom Voe oil terminal, in the latest blow to the oil and gas sector. Will the Leader of the House allocate Government time for a full debate on the future of the oil and gas sector before it is too late?