Business of the House

Richard Burgon Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[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.

[Richard Burgon (Leeds East) (Lab)]

Forty-one MPs, including myself, have signed early-day motion 2386 tabled by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) regarding the Palestine Action hunger strike, which calls on the Justice Secretary

“to intervene urgently to ensure”

that the treatment of the prisoners concerned

“is humane and their human rights are upheld.”

[That this House expresses its extreme concern that six prisoners associated with Palestine Action have felt that they had no other recourse to protest against their prison conditions but to launch a hunger strike; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Justice to intervene urgently to ensure their treatment is humane and their human rights are upheld.]

Ten MPs have also co-signed a letter to the Justice Secretary, but no response has been received. Will the Leader of the House send an urgent message to the Justice Secretary asking him to respond to our request, and can he help ensure an urgent debate next week? Time really is of the essence.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

We continue to assess the wellbeing of prisoners and will always take the appropriate action, including taking prisoners to hospital if they are assessed as needing treatment by a medical professional. We are keeping that under very close scrutiny; the Deputy Prime Minister is aware of the situation, and he and his Department are monitoring it closely. However, as was made clear by our right hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) and by Mr Speaker yesterday, it is important that correspondence on these matters is responded to quickly and in a timely fashion, so I will raise this issue with the Department to make sure Members are kept informed.