Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 26th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As I said previously, we inherited this system from the previous Government—they designed it and delivered it—and it is not working to the benefit of students. We are making changes to improve the system and make it fairer, and will continue to do so, but I will draw my hon. Friend and constituency neighbour’s concerns to the attention of the relevant Minister, because I know these matters are of such importance in her constituency.

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

Instead of fighting for Bournemouth in Poole-led Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council, Liberal Democrats in Southbourne and—proving they are just like the rest—independents in Muscliff and Strouden Park voted to kill off a shovel-ready rail project that would have given disabled people, parents with prams and elderly people equal access to Pokesdown station. The independents and Liberal Democrats running BCP council voted to end their long and oft-repeated promise to fund a step- free Pokesdown station despite this Labour Government paying off £165 million of their historical debt, despite the fact that they have increased council tax to raise a further £5 million, and despite their core spending power going up by £56 million. I have been working with the community campaign to rescue this project. Will the Leader of the House support me in facilitating conversations with the Treasury and the Department for Transport, taking the conversations I have already had further so that we can achieve a step-free Pokesdown station once and for all?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for his contribution—he has raised this matter several times on his constituents’ behalf, and is fighting hard against the Lib Dem and independent funding cuts in his area. As he has said, rail plays a crucial role in connecting communities. Pokesdown station sounds like a very important part of that, so I will make sure that the relevant Minister is made aware of the situation, and will arrange a meeting so that my hon. Friend can discuss this matter in more detail.

Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 22nd January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for bringing the wonderful work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to the attention of the House. Charities and their volunteers are fundamental to communities across the country, and none more so than air ambulances. I will ensure that the relevant Minister has heard my hon. Friend’s contribution and provides him with an update on what the Government plan to do to further support such services.

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

In the last 20 minutes, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council’s planning committee has approved the Cherries’ plans to enable work to expand Vitality stadium. There is an agreement that there will be staff to marshal traffic and parking, and a council working group to abate the concerns of residents, which were voiced so eloquently by Councillor Sharon Carr-Brown at the planning meeting. Will the Leader of the House welcome this good news, and will he commit the Government to continuing to support football? There is already the £551 million going into Euro 2028, which England will co-host, and the Football Governance Act 2025.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly welcome the news that my hon. Friend has delivered about the expansion at AFC Bournemouth. He knows, as do many Members across the House, the importance of football to this country, and the importance of football clubs in our towns and cities. It is important that football gets the support that it needs, and the Government are absolutely committed to that.

Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising the situation at Darley Abbey. The disruption to local businesses and the wider community is of great concern. I will make sure that the relevant Minister has heard her remarks, and if she seeks a meeting with a Minister, I will seek to facilitate that.

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

Told mistakenly that he was £472 in arrears for child support, my constituent Daniel White was then told that his situation was resolved, only to hear months later that he was in fact £1,800 in arrears. Diagnosed with leukaemia and unable to work, my constituent Nader Nouripanah found out months after applying for employment and support allowance, while recovering from a bone marrow transport, that he had to reapply, without explanation. Daniel and Nader have been left dangling for an answer, and both are chasing a fix. How can I work with the Department for Work and Pensions to get the right solution for my constituents? I will keep fighting on their behalf, and the DWP needs to do better.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I never underestimate my hon. Friend when he says that he is fighting on his constituents’ behalf, because he is a fearless advocate for his constituents. I am grateful to him for raising these matters; he has raised them before, and they are now on record. He asked what more he can do; there will be DWP questions shortly, which will be another opportunity for him to raise his concerns.

Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly will join my hon. Friend. I congratulate her on lobbying for the bus service to be reinstated, which I understand from what she has said has happened. We need to congratulate her and everyone else who campaigned for that. The Government believe bus services are vital to local communities. I invite her to seek an Adjournment debate or a Backbench Business debate on bus services, where colleagues would be able to join her in appreciating the importance of those services and hear directly from Ministers.

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

Evri are the worst. My constituents faced misery over Christmas, with no customer service. In fact, customer service was provided only in the form of chatbots. I recently received a woeful reply after writing to Evri’s CEO. There are many excellent couriers, including Rodrigo, Martin and Tony in Bournemouth, and I thank them, but they are being let down by Evri. Does my right hon. Friend agree that when private parcel operators deliver appalling customer service without minimum standards, it is workers and customers who suffer, left shouting into the void? Can he advise me on how I can secure meaningful redress for my Bournemouth East constituents?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thought for a moment that my hon. Friend had been talking to my wife about the success or otherwise of Evri. The delivery practices exposed in a recent “Panorama” programme are simply unacceptable. The Government expect all parcel operators to meet their service requirements, protect customers and support retailers at the busiest time of the year. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to shine a light on this. I hope colleagues will continue to do so until Evri, or any other operator, improves its performance.

Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

I am concerned about antisocial behaviour on Colonnade, Somerset, Parkwood, Gladstone, Shelley, Wolverton and Haviland Roads as well as others nearby. I welcome the Labour Government’s roll-out of dedicated, visible and contactable officers and the requirement that police respond to all antisocial behaviour complaints within 72 hours. What more are the Labour Government doing to keep my constituents safe?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend raises an important issue that affects many of our constituents. Antisocial behaviour continues to be a blight on the communities we serve, but the Government are determined to bear down on it. Our Crime and Policing Bill will introduce respect orders and strengthen police powers to tackle antisocial behaviour. He may wish to raise these matters in person at the next Home Office questions.

Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 16th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Businesses must conduct proper due diligence. We understand the concern of my hon. Friend’s constituents, because they are widely felt across the country. He may know that we have launched a review on responsible business conduct as part of our trade strategy, and he may wish to seek a Backbench Business or Adjournment debate to highlight these matters.

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

On Saturday morning, I met residents concerned about persistent antisocial behaviour, drug dealing and under-age vaping. I am trying to get the solutions they need by arranging a community meeting with the police. How can I use the Government’s new powers to limit vape shops and barbers in particular areas so that the residents of Warwick Place, Wickham Road, Hannington Road and York Place, and the surrounding streets, can finally feel safe?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Unfortunately, this is an all too familiar story. We are committed to cracking down on antisocial behaviour in our communities. As the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities set out yesterday, the pride in place programme will give communities the power to block unwanted shops, including vape stores and fake barbers. We are also bringing in new laws to crack down on dodgy vape shops through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently going through the Lords.

Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 11th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Government have been clear in their condemnation of many of the things that have been happening over the last time in Gaza. They have made it clear that it is important that aid gets into the area and that we move towards a ceasefire to resolve this. But when the hon. Member talks about whom we might talk to about that, I say gently that most conflicts end with some kind of diplomacy, and that requires people to talk to each other, even though they may not agree. That allows the UK Government and the Prime Minister to put views across, which is really important. International law is at the heart of everything that the Government seek to do. As for an opportunity to raise that, there have been many statements and debates in this place about this important matter, and my intention is that that will continue.

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

I have enjoyed many Bournemouth air festivals, so its cancellation has left a huge gap. I recently met an event organiser who has a plan, and I am open to meeting more organisers. The BH Area Hospitality Association, under the leadership of Rosie Radwell, has launched “Check In – Chill Out”, which is a campaign to showcase how great Bournemouth is. Does the Leader of the House agree in the strongest possible terms that Bournemouth is the best seaside town? Will he congratulate the campaign? Will he grant a debate on tourism, particularly for coastal and seaside towns?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I very much congratulate Bournemouth on how it is promoting its town, as well as my hon. Friend on how he is promoting it. I have to say he is stretching it a bit by asking me to say it is the best seaside town since I have Whitley Bay in my constituency, but it should not be a competition. What we need to do is promote seaside and coastal towns. They are fantastic places to live and to visit.

Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I join my hon. Friend in that call. We want more neighbourhood police officers patrolling our streets, particularly at the times of day when crime is most likely to be committed and people want to feel safe.

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

I recently met grassroots football teams, including King Park Dynamos, Generation Elite Academy, Queens Park ladies and the AFC Bournemouth community sports trust Minikickers. They want more football pitches in Bournemouth, and Kings park would be the perfect place, but the athletics track needs fixing, the master plan updating and the playground enhancing, and Kings park nursery should be brought into use again. Will the Leader of the House grant a debate in Government time on access to grassroots sport?

[Lucy Powell]

I join my hon. Friend in saying that Bournemouth needs more football pitches. That is why we are investing more in grassroots sport and have given more money to local government. It is vital that those sorts of facilities are there for communities and young people to keep healthy and fit.

Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 19th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am sorry to hear of that story. Everyone deserves dignity and respect in our society. We committed in our manifesto to reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004. Our immediate priorities for the trans community are a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices and strengthening the protections from hate crimes, which we discussed in the House yesterday.

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

It is Care Home Open Week, and in the last few days I have had the pleasure of visiting Muscliff nursing home and Highview care home in Southbourne. Will the Leader of the House join me in commending our carers across Bournemouth East and Britain and the vibrant communities that they help to shape? Will she consider setting aside Government time for a debate on social care?

[Lucy Powell]

I join my hon. Friend in thanking our carers for all the work they do. This Government have taken a number of steps to support our carers, with the biggest increase in carer’s allowance in generations and many other measures. I am sure that we will debate social care many times in this House in the coming months.

Business of the House

Tom Hayes Excerpts

Thursday 27th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that important matter for many colleagues across the House. He will be aware that the Bill’s Committee stage ended this week. It has been considerably amended: I think that the Committee accepted more than 100 amendments from those on both sides of the debate. The Government are committed to ensuring that the impact assessment is available for Members in good time before Report. I am sure that he will recognise that that will be a challenge, given how much the Bill has been amended, but we will do our very best to ensure that Members have ample time to look at it.

[Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) (Lab)]

I was thrilled to be at Vitality stadium to see AFC Bournemouth women’s team crowned the FA women’s national league division 1 south west champions. It adds to the success of Queens Park ladies under-12s, who beat all the boys in its first season to win the league. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating those two teams? Might she also wish the best of luck to the men’s team as they face Manchester City in the FA cup on Sunday?

[Lucy Powell]

I will not go that far, because hopefully I will be spending Mothering Sunday watching City win and progress to the next round, but I certainly join him in congratulating the women’s football teams in his constituency on beating the boys and winning the tournament.