Business of the House

Susan Murray Excerpts

Thursday 16th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Given the legacy that we inherited—the number of people not in employment, education or training—access to work is a big priority for this Government, and through the Milburn review we are looking at what further steps we can take. Should my hon. Friend seek a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss how this can be done in a joined-up way, I will certainly support him in trying to get that meeting.

[Susan Murray (Mid Dunbartonshire) (LD)]

I want to continue to highlight the importance of local railways—an issue that has already been raised by the hon. Member for Bathgate and Linlithgow (Kirsteen Sullivan). This year is the 200th anniversary of Scotland’s first modern railway, the Monkland and Kirkintilloch line. It opened in 1826, just months after Stockton and Darlington became the first passenger railway in the world to use steam trains, and it is the first railway in Scotland to be authorised by Act of Parliament to use steam trains for both passengers and goods. The community in my constituency is celebrating with exhibitions, talks and a guided walk in Whitegates Park, which is named after the level crossing where the line approached the Forth and Clyde canal, delivering Monkland coal to barges destined for Edinburgh. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Don Martin, an eminent local historian who has researched and championed the heritage of the line for decades, and will he consider coming north—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)]

Order. The hon. Lady has been here long enough to know that questions cannot be that long.