Business of the House

Warinder Juss Excerpts

Thursday 26th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As ever, I thank the hon. Gentleman for his work and for the commitment of his Committee to this place. He and I have discussed on a number of occasions how best we can use time in this place. As he has said, the Modernisation Committee is looking at that now, and I echo his request that Members take part in that consultation and put in a submission.

I cannot make a promise that I am unable to keep. Timings over the next few weeks will be somewhat uncertain, because we will be depending on messages that might or might not come back from the other place, but I will certainly bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman says.

The issue of potholes has been raised with me from across the House on a number of occasions and, I note, it was raised this morning in Transport questions. We are investing £24 billion in maintaining and improving motorways and local roads across the country. As my right hon. Friend the Transport Secretary has said, drivers are fed up with the state of roads, and the extra funding that we have provided is for potholes and road maintenance; it is not to be diverted elsewhere. As for my reaction to Pothole Pete, I will draw it to the attention of Transport Ministers and seek their views, rather than give my own.

[Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West) (Lab)]

Last week, I had the pleasure of holding a chess tournament at the Royal School Wolverhampton in my constituency, bringing together primary and secondary school pupils to socialise and compete for individual and team medals. I even managed to play a couple of games myself. Chess is invaluable to young people, helping them to develop intellectual and emotional skills such as problem-solving, resilience, patience and concentration. Will the Leader of the House join me in commending the outstanding work of the Chess in Schools and Communities charity—without which the event would not have been possible—and the Royal School for hosting the event, and will he please ask the Secretary of State for Education to advise us on when the funds earmarked to develop chess in schools will be made available via a tender?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question—I know that he is both a keen advocate for chess and a keen player. I join him in commending the Chess in Schools and Communities charity for its work in teaching chess to young people, and the Royal School Wolverhampton for hosting the event. I will raise his specific question about funding with the Department for Education and get him the answer he needs.