Business of the House

Samantha Niblett Excerpts

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for raising the importance of the independent bookselling industry, and I will ensure that her words are heard by the relevant Minister. We are changing maximum payment terms, giving certainty to companies that they will be paid on time. Our shopkeepers and family-run firms work hard and they deserve the Government’s backing. We are determined to give them that backing, but too often they are held back by late payments.

[Samantha Niblett (South Derbyshire) (Lab)]

New House Farm school in my part of Mickleover in South Derbyshire is planned and groundwork is complete. The trigger point for the release of the section 106 funds is 314 houses, which is likely to be met in November. However, we have yet to receive a clear signal to go ahead and build the school from the Department for Education and we do not want to lose out. Will the Leader of the House please help me to get that clear signal, so that families in Mickleover and the local vicinity can be assured of their children’s education in a state-of-the-art local school?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I understand the anxiety felt by my hon. Friend’s constituents, and the need for certainty on their children’s future education. The Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven and Workington (Josh MacAlister), has committed to provide an update on the outcomes of the review of mainstream free school projects later this year. It is a substantial exercise covering 44 projects, and I will ensure that Members are notified as soon as there is a decision.