Business of the House

Graham Stringer Excerpts

Thursday 27th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The House will know that I am a strong advocate for Select Committees, the responsibilities that they hold, and the responsibilities that Members and Ministers have towards them. I will look into the matter; I am content to follow that up with the right hon. Gentleman. I do not know about 9 December—let us see what we can achieve—but I will take the matter up with the Paymaster General. He is doing a great job, and he is very busy, but Select Committees are really important.

[Graham Stringer (Blackley and Middleton South) (Lab)]

Last Thursday, Baroness Hallett issued the second part of her important report on covid, which deals with the effectiveness, or ineffectiveness, of the Government’s response to covid and the £400 billion spent on it. After the first Hallett report, there was a statement; by now, I would have expected a statement in the House on the second report, and arrangements to have been made for a debate. Can the Leader of the House tell me when the statement will be, and will he arrange for a debate on the subject in Government time?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As my hon. Friend acknowledges, there was a statement after the earlier report. The Government will want to keep the House updated as matters evolve, so I will look at making that happen. I should add, though, that we do not need to wait for that to address some of the issues; the Chancellor is addressing them by pursuing the beneficiaries of dodgy deals, and getting £400 million back to invest in public services.