Business of the House

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important point. I agree that these are important matters for drivers themselves and for their families’ wellbeing, and taxi drivers also provide a very important service to our constituents, so these matters need to be resolved. I will draw this issue to the attention of the relevant Minister and get my hon. Friend an update on what can be done to resolve the situation.

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

Hundreds of my constituents work at the Scunthorpe steelworks, which, as the Leader of the House will know, is under Chinese ownership. When the Prime Minister reported back earlier this week, I asked him whether he had engaged in related negotiations during his visit to China. It is disappointing to note that he did not respond to that question. Clearly, the long-term future of the plant is important to thousands of people. Could the Leader of the House arrange for a statement to update us on how things are progressing?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

This is not just a matter of concern locally for the hon. Gentleman; the Prime Minister is very committed to the future of the steel industry, and to the workers in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency and the surrounding constituencies. I am not sure why he did not get a direct answer to his question, but I will make sure that he gets a readout from the Prime Minister’s visit, so that he can see what took place and what assurances the Prime Minister was able to get. The Prime Minister is absolutely committed to the workforce.

Business of the House

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 22nd January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is an assiduous campaigner for his constituents, for which I thank him. As he knows, we have capped bus fares at £3 until at least March 2027, but he mentions the reality of what is happening in local areas. I will raise his case with the Secretary of State and ensure that he gets a meeting if he wants one. If not, he will certainly get a response.

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

North East Lincolnshire council has just received a planning application for 3,500 homes in the strategic gap between Laceby in my constituency and the west of Grimsby. When developments are proposed, the developer usually says that it will provide a new school and doctors surgery and so on, but that does not guarantee that the teachers or doctors will be available to work in them. Could the Leader of the House arrange for a Minister to explain to the House how this can be resolved, given the Government’s relaxation of local input into planning applications?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman raises an important matter. Planning matters are best resolved locally, but I agree that developers have a responsibility to the wider community. The Government are very keen to ensure that infrastructure is in place, including schools, and we are recruiting more teachers so that we have the people to teach in the schools that are built. I will raise his concerns with the relevant Minister, and if he wants a meeting to discuss these matters, I will help him get one.

Business of the House

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this point on behalf of hospitality in his constituency. I gave a fuller answer on this matter previously. The Government are actively looking at how best we can help pubs and, more widely, at what further support we can provide.

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

Yesterday, Open Doors held its annual event here in Westminster and published its world watch list. Thanks to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) in particular, we have often had debates about religious persecution, but can the Leader of the House find time for a debate in Government time in the Chamber to consider the latest Open Doors list and the persecution that exists across the world?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman is right to raise these matters, which are of huge concern. I pay tribute to him and to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for doing so consistently and continually. I cannot promise him a debate in Government time, but should he seek an Adjournment debate, or indeed a Backbench Business debate, I am sure he will find support across the House.

Business of the House

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for continuing to raise this crucial matter. It is essential that all parties build on the foundations of the peace plan, so that we can move along a sustainable path to long-term peace. We will play a leading role in accelerating Gaza’s reconstruction. This financial year, we are providing £116 million for humanitarian and other aid, including healthcare, food, clean water and sanitation. The Government continue to keep this area at the forefront of our mind. We want to ensure a better future for the people of that area.

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

The village of East Halton in my constituency is partly cut off at the moment because of a sinking road. Natural England is refusing permission for the local authority to move in and carry out the work because of badgers in the area. This is causing complete chaos, and tractors and heavy goods vehicles are having to use country lanes. That highlights yet again that Natural England and other agencies have the power to overrule democratically elected authorities that want to carry out work on behalf of local residents. Will the Leader of the House arrange for a debate on the powers that these agencies have, and how we can return some of those powers to elected authorities?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Government are looking across planning to ensure a balance between the natural world, which people are very concerned about, and development, or in this case improvement or repair. We want perhaps more of a balance than there has been in the past. I will draw this matter to the attention of the appropriate Minister, so that they can set out for the hon. Gentleman our plans to ensure that organisations such as Natural England have proportionate influence.

Business of the House

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. The CMS has a range of enforcement powers to ensure that parents meet their financial responsibilities in full and on time. I understand that this will be a worrying time for his constituent and her family, and indeed for others across our country, so I will ensure that the relevant Minister writes to him as a matter of urgency. There is a pattern emerging here; this is the second time this matter has been raised this morning. We therefore need to give some consideration to how best to air these views more fully.

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

I have in my hand the tickets that my late father and I had for the 1966 world cup final. The price was £1 and five shillings, which I am sure the Leader of the House would acknowledge is better value than the ridiculous FIFA prices. Can he confirm that Ministers at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have made known their views and those of the Prime Minister, who has also been critical on this subject, to the Football Association, so that those views can be fed to the ridiculous organisation that is FIFA?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I remind the House that the only time we have won the world cup was under a Labour Government. I will take up the hon. Gentleman’s point with DCMS. The reality is that the world is a different place now, when it comes to international football—in some ways for the better, but in many ways not. It is important that fans can access matches at a reasonable cost, so I will raise the matter with DCMS Ministers and see what representations they have made to FIFA on seeing sense on these matters.

Christmas Adjournment

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

As we approach the Christmas celebrations, it is appropriate that we reflect on the place of the Christian faith in our society and the role of the established Church—that is, the Church of England—in furthering the Gospel. I am an Anglican and a regular worshipper at St Giles and St Matthew’s church in my constituency. Religious faith is important to me, as it is to thousands of my constituents and millions across the world. It is an important part of our identity.

There have been disturbing reports in recent weeks that some far-right activists are trying to hijack religion, claiming to be the protectors of Christianity. The Church should respond, in my view, by concentrating more on spreading the Gospel rather than acting as an non-governmental organisation or lobby group. If it did so, there would be much less space for the far right to claim that they are the voice of Christian Britain.

Not everyone celebrating Christmas next week will be Christians. The pews will be fuller than usual, whether it is for midnight mass, carol services or Christingle services, all of which provide our churches with an opportunity to proclaim the Christian message and perhaps touch the hearts of those who used to believe, who have doubts or who are searching for something to satisfy their spiritual yearnings. In a strange way, the Church of England does indeed speak for mainstream middle England. This coming Sunday, I will be attending two nine lessons and carols services, one in the small St Peter’s church in Ashby cum Fenby in my constituency, and one in the grander setting of Grimsby minster. Equally, wherever it is, the message will be the same, and no doubt the words of St John’s Gospel will be resounding. For me, the striking passage in that Gospel, as the authorised version says, is:

“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, but the world knew him not.”

Then, as now, the world was ignoring Christ’s message of peace and goodwill. Happy Christmas.

Business of the House

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As usual, my hon. Friend pays tribute to the good people of south Wales and to her constituents. Apart from her song, let me pick out an important bit in what she said: this started on her kitchen table. It would not have happened and would not be the scale that it is without her fantastic dedication. It embodies the very best of community spirit, and I praise her and people across her community for making it happen. I am very sad that she is not releasing a Christmas song of her own this year, but there is always next year.

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

Last Saturday morning, the manager and assistant manager of a local care home came to my surgery out of concern for an elderly resident—they gave up their own time to do so. She was bedbound and could not get dental attention for a serious abscess, and she was in great pain. She could not get to the hospital or to a GP, and no dentist was prepared to come and attend to her in the home. I have been in touch with the integrated care board, and we are trying to sort this issue out, but there does not appear to be any particular duty to provide in these sorts of circumstances. Will the Leader of the House arrange for a statement so that we can clarify the situation?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

We recognise that certain groups of patients still may find it difficult to access dental care. Specialised dental services are in place to provide dental treatment in several settings, and we are developing new emergency care hubs; in some cases, that includes care homes. The Government’s 10-year health plan will mean more dentists and improved access to oral healthcare, but I am as distressed as the hon. Gentleman’s constituents will be by the case he raises, so if he wishes, I will try to get him a meeting with Ministers so that he can hear what is happening in his area.

Business of the House

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 4th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

The Chair, my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman), sends his apologies for his absence. In addition to the debates that the Leader of the House mentioned, there will be Westminster Hall debates next Tuesday on consumer-led flexibility for a just transition and next Thursday afternoon on the role of Fairtrade certification in UK business and trade. The second debate on Thursday afternoon is particularly important, because it was initiated by me; it is on the future of the oil refining sector in the UK. The following week, beginning 15 December, there will be a debate on Tuesday on planning policy for quarries and debates on Thursday on the literary and cultural legacy of Jane Austen and on community audiology. Those debates show what a vast range of interests there are across the House.

Turning to my own question, last Saturday I visited Humberside airport with the shadow Transport Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay (Mr Holden), where management outlined the challenges faced not just by them but by regional airports up and down the country. They are facing increased national insurance costs, and in the case of Humberside, they face the potential loss of business from Eastern Airways, which is in administration. If work in the North sea—on the rigs and so on—declines, they will face the loss of the helicopter transfers that they rely on. Will the Leader of the House provide Government time for a debate on the role of regional airports?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

First, I am grateful to both the hon. Gentleman and the Chair of the Committee for the update on Backbench Business, and I thank everyone on that Committee.

On the constituency matter the hon. Gentleman raises, the Government recognise the importance of regional airports for the communities they serve and the local economy. He outlines the challenge to Humberside airport. We do recognise the potential impact of the Eastern Airways issue on employees and the airport itself, so I thank him for raising the matter. I will raise his concerns with Ministers, and should he seek a meeting to see what can be done to help in that situation, I will arrange that.

Business of the House

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 27th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

Hundreds of my constituents work at Scunthorpe steelworks, and I fully support the Government’s actions to support the industry. A written statement on this subject is published each month. The most recent one says:

“We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of British Steel.”—[Official Report, 11 November 2025; Vol. 775, c. 1WS.]

Twice in the past couple of weeks, Ministers have referred to a business plan that exists for the steelworks. Could the Leader of the House arrange for the relevant Minister to come to the House and actually give details of the Government’s business plan?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will draw that to the attention of the relevant Minister, but I also invite the hon. Gentleman to hear about this from Ministers, at first hand. We will arrange an appointment, if he wishes for that to happen.

Business of the House

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will join my hon. Friend in recognising the important legacy of Mary Barbour. I invite my hon. Friend to seek an Adjournment debate in which she could not only highlight the housing emergency she refers to in Scotland but put on record that Scotland has secured a record funding settlement this year, and therefore the Scottish Government should be held to account for that.

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

Yesterday I attended a drop-in session in aid of those who suffer from Huntington’s disease. As is often the case when we attend these events, they signed me up as a champion. My first role as champion is to highlight the new guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for those suffering from this disease. Could the Leader of the House ask the Health Secretary to make a statement to explain how quickly those guidelines can be implemented, to help those suffering from this awful disease?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on being a champion—it has been a good week for awards for us both. Huntington’s is a terrible disease. The fantastic work by people across communities has kept this in the public eye, and the NICE guidelines are addressing this. The need for speed, I am sure, is in the minds of those who are involved. I will raise this matter with the Health Secretary.