Business of the House

Nusrat Ghani Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is a doughty champion for mineworkers both in his constituency and across the country, and I thank him for that. I am sure the Chancellor will want to ensure that the House remains updated on this issue, but I will ensure that my hon. Friend gets a response from the relevant Treasury Minister so that he can get an update for his constituents.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson—congratulations on your promotion.

[Mr Lee Dillon (Newbury) (LD)]

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I associate the Liberal Democrats with the Leader of the House’s remarks about the attack in Poland and about our remembrance events? I look forward to settling into this new role and working with colleagues across the House, especially as we look to modernise.

On Tuesday, my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Josh Babarinde) introduced a ten-minute rule Bill to update the census questions so that they better reflect how constituents see themselves. No one objected—no one—and the Bill has support from across the House, including from the right hon. Members for Tottenham (Mr Lammy) and for Braintree (Sir James Cleverly). Since then, however, the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth (Rupert Lowe), who was in the Chamber on Tuesday and who did not object, has tabled an early-day motion that would seek to undo this cross-party work if it was followed through.

The Liberal Democrats were pleased to hear at Prime Minister’s questions that the Prime Minister is open to a discussion and supportive of the principle, and I am grateful that his office is arranging a meeting with my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne. People should be able to describe their own Englishness in their own words, not have it defined to them by those who want to divide us. Will the Leader of the House join me in backing that principle, and will he tell us what Government time can be found so that the Bill can make progress?

While talking about Englishness, given that Harry Kane will become the record cap holder later today, does the Leader of the House agree that it is surely time for him to become Sir Harry Kane?

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[Sir Alan Campbell]

I want to put on record our recognition of the important contribution that local democracy reporters make in holding councils to account. The reality is that Reform UK in Derbyshire was running scared of basic scrutiny, and that tells us everything we need to know about its fitness—or rather, lack of fitness—for public office. The Government take these matters seriously, and my hon. Friend may wish to raise his concerns in the debate on the Nolan principles later today.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

I call the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

I thank Mr Speaker for hosting a Diwali event in Speaker’s House last night.

In addition to the business that the Leader of the House has announced, on Thursday 19 November there will be a statement from the Education Committee on its report, and on Thursday 26 November there will be a statement from the Transport Committee on its report. Given that the second debate on 19 November is on the emerging risks of advanced AI and was squeezed out on a previous occasion, would the Leader of the House consider giving that debate some form of protected time, to ensure that the large number of Members who want to speak are able to do so?

In addition, the business in Westminster Hall is as follows. On 17 November, there will be a debate on the performance of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. On Thursday 19 November, there will be a debate on support in the NHS for patients with learning disabilities, followed by a debate on inequalities in access to therapy for disabled children. On Tuesday 24 November, there will be a debate on the role of an MP, and on Thursday 26 November there will be a debate on access to stroke services in remote areas, followed by a debate on Islamophobia Awareness Month. On Tuesday 1 December, there will be a debate on nursing staff.

I gently remind the Leader of the House that we are still one down on the Backbench Business Committee. That is very important, because a number of colleagues are away from the estate on parliamentary business next week, and the quorum for our meetings is very tight.

Madam Deputy Speaker, you will know that executions of political prisoners in Iran are frequent. Indeed, Iran is the centre of executions of people who just want to stand up for their human rights. Later this evening, I shall be presenting the Magnitsky award for outstanding human rights activist to Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani. He has been in prison in Iran for six years for his part in the protests of 2019. He is on death row for the simple reason that he is a political protester. Can we have a statement to this House from a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister on what the Government will do to call out not only this potential execution but all the other potential executions of prisoners in Iran?

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[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Order. I urge Back Benchers to keep their questions short.

[Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West) (Lab)]

A constituent of mine relies on Ramipril to tackle his high blood pressure, but because of national shortages he is having to run between his local GP surgery and pharmacies in order to get his medication, while working full time, which is having a detrimental effect on his mental health. Will the Leader of the House ask the Department of Health and Social Care what is being done to improve supply chain resilience against shortages of vital and common drugs such as Ramipril, and to ensure that our constituents are properly supported when there are drug shortages?

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[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Order. Questions are far too long. I ask Members to cross out most of what they have written, and will the Leader of the House please be as sharp as he can?

[Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills) (Con)]

Ahead of Road Safety Week and this Sunday’s service of remembrance for road traffic victims, will the Leader of the House set aside time for a debate on road safety, including how technologies such as intervening intelligent speed assistance could help reduce repeat speeding offences and prevent more families from suffering the devastating loss of a loved one?

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[Sir Alan Campbell]

I hope that the council has not just heard what my hon. Friend has said today, but takes the action that he seeks. I can assure the council that he is a doughty campaigner for his constituents and will not give up until it takes action.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Reading the question super-fast does not make the question any shorter. Victoria Collins is no longer here, so I call Ben Maguire.

[Ben Maguire (North Cornwall) (LD)]

Cornwall continues to face a housing crisis, and my Airbnb Bill, which I am presenting later today, would require planning permission before a family home can be turned into a holiday let, in much the same way as planning is required to turn a house into a shop or another commercial business. Will the Leader of the House commit to a debate in Government time on reforming the change of use rules, so that councils in areas that have acute housing shortages, such as Cornwall, can finally regulate the housing sector to ensure that everyone has a safe place to live?

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[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

I am sure the Leader of the House shared my delight as Bridlington Town defeated Curzon Ashton on penalties in the first round of the FA trophy. This Saturday at 3 o’clock, they will welcome the mighty Macclesfield in the second round—a truly David versus Goliath clash. The good news, Madam Deputy Speaker, is that I have two tickets in my pocket, and I wonder whether the Leader of the House would like to make time on Saturday afternoon to join me at Brid Town and give himself a brief respite from watching Sunderland.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Not me?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am looking around the Chamber to see whether my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Tim Roca) is present before I answer. I was delighted to see the hon. Gentleman’s team progress; unfortunately, my diary for the weekend is already somewhat full, but I will give thought to whether we can join forces at a future game—hopefully one in which his team continue to progress.