Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 19th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As ever, the hon. Gentleman raises a serious issue in the responsible way that we have become accustomed to. He knows the UK is committed to defending freedom of religion and belief for all. The persecution of Christians in Pakistan is unacceptable. Protecting freedom of religion or belief is central to the UK Government’s human rights engagement in Pakistan, and we are committed to working with communities and supporting programmes that promote greater tolerance and religious freedoms. I will draw his remarks this morning to the attention of the Foreign Secretary and make sure that he gets an update.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

West Dunbartonshire is one of eight local authorities in Scotland fortunate enough to receive the UK Labour Government’s Pride in Place immediate impact funding, with £1.5 million to be spent this year, making a huge difference to local facilities, community groups and organisations right across West Dunbartonshire. One such recipient is Holm Park community ground, which received £240,000 of funding to make improvements. As a result, Clydebank football club received bronze award status yesterday. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Clydebank football club and wish the Bankies all the best for the rest of the season?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly will. I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. It is great news for everyone in Clydebank, and I understand the team are having a great season. It also demonstrates the importance of Pride in Place. This is not just about providing money to invest in communities; it is about communities making the key decisions for themselves. I hope that bronze status will help the club with its future plans and moving up divisions in the Scottish football league.

Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I commend my hon. Friend for being a fantastic champion for his constituency. The Government are giving constituents investment in the powers they need to deliver the change they want to see in their communities. I wish his constituency good luck, but I also wish other Members of the House good luck in their campaign to get Pride in Place funding and in ensuring that it is a success.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

Tomorrow marks the 85th anniversary of the Clydebank blitz, when across the nights of 13 and 14 March 1941, my hometown of Clydebank suffered horrendous losses: 528 people were killed, and of the 12,000 homes, only eight remained undamaged. I will be attending the service of remembrance at Kilbowie St Andrew’s church in Clydebank tomorrow. Will the Leader of the House join me in commemorating this occasion, and does he agree that all wars result in the loss of innocent civilian lives?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for marking this important anniversary. At this time in particular, we must remember all those who serve and have served in our armed forces, and all those who are victims of the devastating impact of war. Anniversaries such as that of the Clydebank blitz remind us of those who have served, those who were wounded and those who were killed.

Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 5th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The short answer is yes, I do. We ran one of the biggest national conversations that the Government have had with young people to produce our national youth strategy, which we published in December last year, but we need to make sure that that process continues. Should my hon. Friend seek an Adjournment debate, I am sure that it would be well attended.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of my constituent Jagtar Singh Johal’s acquittal of all charges in the only court case against him in India that has actually proceeded to trial. Despite that, he remains arbitrarily detained in an Indian prison, as he has been for more than eight years now. Will the Leader of the House agree to meet me, together with his ministerial colleagues from the Foreign Office, to discuss our Government’s plan and what progress has been made to secure Mr Johal’s release and return home to Dumbarton? Just raising it with Indian counterparts is not achieving any progress.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for his sustained campaign on behalf of Mr Johal. We continue to push for faster progress. As he says, the case has been raised directly by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary with their counterparts. I will ensure that my hon. Friend gets an update on these matters from Ministers. If he wishes to raise it with them directly, I will make sure that he gets a meeting.

Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 29th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Government did announce important steps forward, but I am not across the specifics that the hon. Lady refers to, so if she wants to meet with a Minister to explore what more can be done, I will arrange that.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

As Member of Parliament for West Dunbartonshire, I have the honour of following in the footsteps of a very distinguished predecessor, Lord McFall, the Lord Speaker, who steps down this week after 40 years at Westminster. He has served my community and our democracy with great wisdom, courtesy, grace and humility. Will the Leader of the House join me in expressing gratitude for his decades of service, and send both him and his wife Joan our warmest wishes?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I think I can speak for everyone across the House in thanking Lord McFall for his service and commitment to both Houses. He was a fine Whip and Minister in government and a truly tremendous parliamentarian. Alongside my hon. Friend, I wish Lord McFall and his wife Joan all the best for what is to come.

Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As the hon. Gentleman implied, it is really important that the Government have brought forward a road safety strategy, which is the first in over a decade. We have an ambition to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by almost two thirds by 2035. As he knows, there are a number of measures in that strategy. I will consider his request for a debate on these matters, because road safety has been raised by many hon. Members in business questions over the last few weeks and months.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in his statement to the House on 11 November, advised that he would “retake” the earlier decision of the Government on the question of how 1950s-born women were affected by the maladministration of pension age changes communication. I have almost 6,000 WASPI women in my constituency, and they are rightfully impatient for this matter finally to be resolved. Does the Leader of the House expect the Secretary of State to update the House soon? If so, when is that expected?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As my hon. Friend said, we are looking again at the decision regarding WASPI women. I know that this is an issue of serious concern to many of our constituents, and we want to resolve the matter as soon as we can. The Secretary of State is absolutely committed to updating the House on this decision. I cannot give a date for that, but as soon as a conclusion is reached, I expect that he will want to inform the House.

Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

We have had many such discussions. In fact, opinion was tested on whether or not the people of this country wanted change, and they decided that they did not. The Government have no plans to bring that forward, but that does not mean that the debate will not go on.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

Will the Leader of the House join me in again congratulating the Scotland men’s national football team on qualifying for the 2026 world cup? The entire team are heroes, not least John McGinn from my West Dunbartonshire constituency, who is a former pupil of my old school, St Columba’s in Clydebank. Does the Leader of the House recognise that:

“We’ve got McGinn,

Super John McGinn,

He’s Stevie Clarke’s man,

He’s better than Zidane”?

Does the Leader of the House agree that he is, in fact, super John McGinn and will he congratulate the entire team?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I congratulate the entire team, John McGinn and everyone involved. I gently remind my hon. Friend, if my memory serves me correctly, that Steve Clarke was a Sunderland manager who honed his skills when he was there. I remind anyone who did not hear me say this earlier that the last time Scotland qualified was in 1998 and the last time England won the world cup was in 1966—the link is that at both times there was a Labour Government.

Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 13th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Local infrastructure is so important, particularly to rural communities. I will draw this case to the attention of the Department for Transport, but in the business I have announced, and in proceedings on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, there might be an opportunity for the hon. Gentleman to raise the issue of how local authorities can be held to account for the decisions they make.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

Hundreds of my West Dunbartonshire constituents, and thousands more across the country, were served notice of the termination of their family protection funeral plan by CMutual and Maiden Life UK. All are members of credit unions, and they are elderly and vulnerable. They have paid in thousands of pounds over the years, but will be left with absolutely nothing on 30 November. Will the Leader of the House agree to an urgent debate on the subject in Government time, and ask the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to conduct an urgent investigation?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

This is an important issue and a concerning situation, and I will draw it to the attention of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. My hon. Friend may get an opportunity to raise the issue during the Budget debate, for which there will be a lot of time.

Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 17th July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that tackling online abuse and hate is one of the biggest challenges of our time. The Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms, my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda and Ogmore (Chris Bryant) is in his place. The Online Safety Act 2023 has been an important first step, but tech platforms need to do more and we will hold them to account for that. The Government want to go further and we will keep the House updated.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

May I thank the Leader of the House for her courtesy and generosity over the past year during business question sessions? She deserves a well-earned rest and holiday during recess—for which I suggest no better place than my constituency. There, she can enjoy a round of golf at Dalmuir golf course, run by a community trust, visit the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, or accept my invitation to join me at the Scottish pipe band championships in Dumbarton on Saturday 26 July. Admission is free.

[Lucy Powell]

I thank my hon. Friend; I am looking forward to a well-earned rest. He is very much on-theme today in inviting me to his favourite spots in his constituency, and he has done that very well. The Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms sitting next to me just said about my hon. Friend’s constituency, “It is very, very nice.” Maybe one day I will visit Loch Lomond and perhaps do better at golf than I did in answering the previous question.

Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 10th July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating those clubs in her constituency on bringing people together to raise money and to raise awareness of baby loss. She has highlighted once again the valuable role that local football clubs and other local sporting clubs can play in bringing people together and dealing with mental health issues and other health needs—they provide a wonderful service.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

I recently met a group of Ukrainian families who have settled in my constituency—it was a privilege to hear their individual stories at first hand. After three years, Putin’s war still rages on. The UK Government operate the Ukraine permission extension scheme, allowing participants an 18-month extension to remain in the UK. I understand that we must respect Ukraine’s desire to see all its citizens return to Ukraine when peace is secured; however, many of my Ukrainian constituents have secured homes and good employment, or are in full-time education. They enrich our communities and see their future in West Dunbartonshire. Will the Leader of the House arrange for a debate in Government time to review how we can provide stability to those seeking career advancement or to complete higher education, ending the uncertainty of short-term visas and starting to plan a pathway towards indefinite leave to remain for Ukrainians who have made this country their home?

[Lucy Powell]

I think every one of us is proud of the way in which this country has welcomed so many Ukrainians in recent years, giving them a home and refuge and supporting them in their time of need. He is right that we have to take into account the wishes of the Ukrainian Government, who want to see many of their citizens return to Ukraine. Our approach needs to respect those wishes, but my hon. Friend has raised the important issues of long-term security and access to higher education, housing and other things, and I will ensure that he gets a full response.

Business of the House

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 19th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

As I said previously, I am sorry; I know that the small increase we have had to make to the Dart charge is of concern to people. As my hon. Friend will be aware, the last time the charges were increased was 2014, but he is right that the issue of toll bridges, toll tunnels and tolls for infrastructure is of great importance to this House and comes up many times. I am sure that if he were to apply for a debate, he would secure one.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

Two of my constituents were recognised in His Majesty the King’s birthday honours list at the weekend. Anne MacDougall, for services to volunteering in the community, and James McLaren of Golden Friendships, for services to people with disabilities and older people, received British Empire Medals. Does the Leader of the House agree that they both are very well deserved, given their dedication to improving lives in West Dunbartonshire, and showcase their remarkable service? Will she join me in congratulating Anne and Jim?

[Lucy Powell]

I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating Anne MacDougall and James McLaren on their honours. I am sure the whole House would agree that our honours system is an opportunity for us to thank and reward all those in our communities who do the work that Anne, Jim and many others across the country do.