Business of the House

Debate between Robbie Moore and Alan Campbell

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly join my hon. Friend in condemning the views that she described. There is absolutely no place for hatred of any kind in our society. Real progress has been made in football in general and at many football grounds, and it is a pity that she has to continue to raise these matters. I join her in praising Luton Town football club for doing its part in fighting racism, along with all the other football clubs that take the matter extremely seriously. She may wish to raise her concerns directly with Ministers at the next Department for Science, Innovation and Technology questions, which are on 4 February.

[Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)]

In Ilkley, Labour-run Bradford council is shockingly set to remove the town’s free one hour of on-street parking, despite over 4,000 residents objecting to the proposals. That follows a local referendum in the town, in which 90% of residents rejected a blanket 20 mile per hour zone and speed humps, only for the results of that poll to be ignored by the Labour mayor, who used his casting vote to push the vote through and, outrageously, said to residents that they should save their votes for “Strictly”, then went on to bill taxpayers £190,000 for the privilege. Ministers often say that decisions are for local leaders, but what happens when local leaders are outright ignoring the views of the public? Will the Leader of the House allow time for a debate on the role of central Government in areas where local democracy is clearly failing?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman is right to raise these concerns. There is clearly real concern in his constituency, but he will not be surprised if I say that parking is a matter for local authorities. It is a matter for local leaders and it is not for the Government to tell them how to manage things at that level. If local people are unhappy with their local representatives, they have the power to do something about that.

Business of the House

Debate between Robbie Moore and Alan Campbell

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise those concerns on behalf of his constituents, and they will be echoed by a number of colleagues from across the House. The Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that those living in the leasehold sector are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous managing agents, and we will strengthen regulation of managing agents to drive up the standards of their service. We will publish the draft leasehold and commonhold reform Bill as soon as possible, and alongside that, there will be the opportunity for debate.

[Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)]

Hawarth village hall is a vital community asset in the centre of the Worth valley in my constituency, but it is in desperate need of repair, upgrade and maintenance. Under the last Conservative Government, over £1 million was allocated to this project back in 2021, but since then, the money has sat with Labour-run Bradford council and remains unspent, while the asset deteriorates. Can we have a debate in Government time on making sure that money that is allocated is spent in a reasonable time, so that assets do not continue to deteriorate?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

If the hon. Gentleman gives me details of the case, I will make sure that the matter is taken up with the appropriate Ministers. Although these issues are to be decided locally, this is public money, so if Ministers can do anything to help resolve the situation, that would be appropriate.

Business of the House

Debate between Robbie Moore and Alan Campbell

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)]

Madam Deputy Speaker, may I wish you, and indeed all Members across the House, a very happy Christmas? Like thousands of my constituents, I have recently been sending Christmas cards. May I use this opportunity to congratulate Leo from Oakworth on creating such an excellent design for my Christmas card this year?

I am sorry to say that hundreds of my constituents have raised their concerns about continued unacceptable delays in mail deliver. There has been partial or no delivery of mail, particularly in the Worth valley area, for months. It is resulting in missed doctors’ and hospital appointments, as well as in bills and urgent correspondence being missed. Can we have a debate in Government time on the importance of this issue, and ensure that Royal Mail is held to account?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Again, that subject has been raised before in business questions, and I hope that Royal Mail has heard that, because it is a story repeated in many parts of the country. What the hon. Gentleman describes is not acceptable, not least if there is to be timely delivery of Christmas cards, but as he rightly points out, the issue affects things like hospital appointment letters, too. I will raise this with the appropriate Minister and ensure that Royal Mail is held to account.

Business of the House

Debate between Robbie Moore and Alan Campbell

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to credit unions, which do a fantastic job in many communities across our country. Were he to seek an Adjournment debate, I am sure that he could find common cause with hon. Members from across the House in raising the profile of credit unions and seeking the answer to his question. I remind the House that this time next week we will be approaching the pre-recess Adjournment debate, when Members will have the opportunity to raise whatever they want.

[Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)]

I pay tribute to five dads from Ilkley—Will, Sam, Martyn, Joe and Dan—who last week walked the entire 82-mile Dales Way, raising over £11,000 for the maternity and neonatal teams at our fantastic Airedale hospital. Between them, they have faced numerous challenges as fathers and are giving back to the hospital through their efforts. Can we have a debate, in Government time, to show our support for dads during early parenthood, and to discuss mental health and wellbeing support and the role that fathers play in neonatal care?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to those dads and we wish them well. Men’s mental health is at the forefront of the Government’s health strategy, and the role of fathers is considered as well. Perhaps he will get an opportunity to raise the issue in an Adjournment debate or in the pre-recess Adjournment debate.

Business of the House

Debate between Robbie Moore and Alan Campbell

Thursday 13th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

British businesses, like Minky Homecare, are vital to boosting the economy and creating jobs in my hon. Friend’s constituency—his home town—and he understands that perfectly. The Government are committed to supporting small businesses, wherever they are, in achieving their potential, and to unlocking investment and driving growth.

[Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)]

Earlier this week, there was a large accidental industrial fire on Pitt Street, in Keighley in my constituency. Nine fire crews attended, some coming from as far away as Mirfield in West Yorkshire. Unfortunately, one person was taken to hospital, and there was a huge amount of damage done to local buildings. My thoughts go out to all those affected by the fire, and I want to personally thank the emergency services for their work, and for acting so professionally. Could we have a debate in Government time about recognising our emergency services, and about what more support the Government can give to businesses that are impacted by such devastating fires?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to our emergency services, and we send our sympathies to those affected. If he seeks a Backbench Business debate or an Adjournment debate on the subject, he will be able to raise those points himself, but I gently point out that for the past 14 years, many services, particularly fire services, have been starved of the funding that they need, so he needs to understand that this is not a recent development.

Water Companies: Executive Bonuses

Debate between Robbie Moore and Alan Campbell

Tuesday 5th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[Robbie Moore]

Picking up on that point, the quality is not only to do with sewage. Of course, that is one of the factors, but there are many other factors to do with agricultural run-off, as well as with faeces from birds and from dogs, particularly in beach environments. I have to be clear that where water companies are significantly contributing to the poor designations that have been identified for bathing water, we will take action.

The Labour party is all talk when it comes to protecting our water, but look no further than Labour-run Wales, where sewage is discharged into waterways more frequently. Just remember that this is what the Leader of the Opposition wants as a blueprint for a Labour Government in England. Look at Labour’s record in government, when it managed to monitor only a tiny fraction of storm overflows—only 7% in 2010—and we are now at nearly 100 % this year. If we do not monitor, we cannot enforce. Look at its voting history. Labour and the Lib Dems voted against reducing pollution in the Agriculture Act 2020. Look at their faces now. They know deep down that this Conservative Government are taking action.

[Sir Alan Campbell (Tynemouth) (Lab)]

claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No.36).

Question put forthwith, That the Question be now put.

Question agreed to.

Main Question accordingly put.

Resolved,

That this House regrets that 13 years of successive Conservative Governments have broken the water industry and its regulatory framework; is deeply concerned about the scale of the sewage crisis and the devastating impact it is having on the UK’s rivers, lakes and seas; believes it is indefensible that executives at UK water companies were paid over £14 million in bonuses between 2020 and 2021 despite inflicting significant environmental and human damage; condemns the Government for being too weak to tackle the crisis and hold water company bosses to account; calls on the Government to empower Ofwat to ban the payment of bonuses to water company executives whose companies are discharging significant levels of raw sewage into the UK’s seas and waterways; and further calls on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to make a statement to this House by 31 January 2024 on the Government’s progress in implementing this ban.