Business of the House

Ian Byrne Excerpts

Thursday 19th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

These matters are often better decided locally because they depend on local circumstances, but if the hon. Gentleman wants to go into greater detail and hear from the relevant Minister, in case the existing rules are not being applied properly, I encourage him to apply for a Westminster Hall debate.

[Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby) (Lab)]

Eight months after the Prime Minister promised a call for evidence on Gabe’s law following the tragic death of 15-year-old Gabriel Santer, we are still waiting. Meanwhile, preventable deaths continue in multi-storey car parks. Companies such as Q-Park, despite multiple incidents and now a state-wide suicide prevention strategy, are still being awarded NHS contracts. Does the Leader of the House agree that that is unacceptable, and will he commit to setting up a meeting with Gabe’s father, who leads the Gabe’s law campaign, and the relevant Ministers to discuss the prospect of the Government reviewing those contracts to ensure that all operators that apply for Government contracts meet consistent nationwide suicide prevention standards across all their sites?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this very concerning matter. We want to prevent future tragedies and our thoughts remain with Gabe’s family and friends. I will ensure that my hon. Friend’s concerns are drawn to the attention of the relevant Minister, and the Minister will decide about a meeting with my hon. Friend and Gabe’s family so that the matter can be taken forward.