Alan Campbell MP: speeches 2025

Speeches

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I am pleased to hear about the successful campaigning by my hon. Friend’s constituent and to thank her for drawing the attention of successive Governments to these issues. I want to repeat what she has said: well done, Deb Harvey.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  We are acutely aware of the concerns that the right hon. Gentleman raises. That is why we are bringing forward a Bill to replace legislation that was either illegal or unfit for purpose, or both. May I say that my hon. Friend, the former Veterans Minister who is now the Armed Forces Minister has done an excellent job of raising those matters at the heart of Government and seeking to reassure colleagues on them? As the right hon. Gentleman points out, we are bringing forward the legislation and we will ensure that there is adequate time so those matters can be debated properly.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The hon. Lady will know that the changes in the Budget last year were to find the money to support public services, so these are not easy decisions by any means. I know that her concern about hospices and the fantastic work they do in our local communities is felt across the House. She may wish to seek a debate on this issue, because the Government will at that point be able to remind the House that we have in fact put in more resources; £100 million has gone into hospices in the last year.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman is right: addressing Ukraine’s financial needs is vital to ensuring that the Ukrainians can continue to defend themselves against Russian aggression. I can confirm that the UK is determined to make progress on this issue at pace, but I am sure he understands that it involves working with other partners in this regard. There is no intention not to move at pace, but other people are involved in this discussion as well. Regardless of whether Russia has a plot for a new stage in the campaign or not, we continue to bolster Ukraine’s armed forces and to increase pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table, because we all want to see an end to the conflict. The hon. Gentleman mentions sanctions. We are pleased that the United States has joined the UK in sanctioning Lukoil and Rosneft, which is very important, but as he points out, it is important that we enforce those sanctions. He raises some interesting points about whether the regime is robust enough. If we are to have a debate before the end of the year, this is the very sort of thing that he might want to raise himself.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  As the House will know, my hon. Friend has been a formidable champion for mineworkers in his constituency and their families, and I pay tribute to him for that. The Government continue to meet with BCSSS trustees, and I will certainly draw his question to the attention of Ministers.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. I understand his constituents’ frustration if they rely on the bridge in their daily lives. The Government believe that local infrastructure should work for the community that it serves, and I will ensure that the relevant Minister hears about this issue.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Improving educational opportunity, including through further education, is absolutely at the heart of what the Government are about in every constituency, not just the hon. Member’s. She might want not just to raise this issue in Education questions, but to call for a debate of her own so that she can further the case.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I can give my hon. Friend that undertaking.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. and gallant Friend for raising this matter and for remembering Lance Corporal Turvey and Lance Corporal Cameron and, indeed, all those young men and women who have lost their lives defending our country. Remembrance Day is, of course, an opportunity to remember, but for the families concerned, every day will be a day to remember. On how we can commemorate that going forward, I hope Defence Ministers will listen to what he says about what further measures we can take to remember such sacrifice.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The Government are looking at the whole subject of buying and selling houses, and this issue may be an interesting part of that. The hon. Lady may wish to write to the Minister about it.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The business for the week commencing 17 November will include: Monday 17 November—Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill. Tuesday 18 November—Second Reading of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. Wednesday 19 November—Consideration of Lords amendments to the Border Security, Asylum And Immigration Bill, followed by Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the Property (Digital Assets) Bill [ Lords ]. Thursday 20 November—Debate on a motion on the subject of international Men’s day, followed by debate on a motion on an injury in service award. The subjects for these debates were determined by the Backbench Business Committee. Friday 21 November—The House will not be sitting. The provisional business for the week commencing 24 November includes: Monday 24 November—Remaining stages of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (day one). Tuesday 25 November—Remaining stages of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (day two). Wednesday 26 November—My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver her Budget statement. Thursday 27 November—Continuation of the Budget debate. Friday 28 November—The House will not be sitting. The provisional business for the week commencing 1 December includes: Monday 1 December—Continuation of the Budget debate. Tuesday 2 December—Conclusion of the Budget debate.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I am happy to join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to Evelyn Armstrong, who has been awarded the Légion d’honneur. I also want to acknowledge the way in which the French Government recognise the role of servicemen and women from other countries who helped to liberate France during the second world war. We had an opportunity to discuss that earlier this week, but I am sure there will be further opportunities to talk about that remarkable generation in the months to come.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  We are committed to making commonhold the default tenure for flats, and bringing the feudal leaseholder system to an end. I will ensure that the House is kept updated as we publish the consultation on banning leasehold for new flats and the draft commonhold and leasehold reform Bill later this year.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Yes, I can.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I will make sure that I draw that to the attention of MHCLG Ministers. If an answer is awaited, I will make sure that residents get the answer, and perhaps Ministers can explain to the hon. Member what further steps we intend to take.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I advise the hon. Lady to seek an Adjournment or a Backbench Business debate on that. As a gluten-free person, I assure her that I appreciate the points that she raises.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The protecting of local businesses by the police is very important, not just in Scotland but everywhere else. Policing is a matter for the Scottish Government, but what my hon. Friend describes sounds like an untenable situation, particularly for the business to which he referred. Scotland has had the biggest funding settlement for a very long time, so I hope the Scottish Government have heard his words.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The Health Secretary is no stranger to coming to this House to update it on the excellent work that he and his Department are doing. I do not have knowledge of this specific case and I wonder whether it is one of those centres that was promised by the previous Government when the money did not exist, but I will draw it to the attention of the Health Secretary. Perhaps the right hon. Lady may wish to meet him to make the case herself.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  As a coastal MP, I absolutely share my hon. Friend’s concern about the state of not just the seas, but our rivers and lakes, and the terrible legacy that we inherited. We are taking action to clean our waterways up through the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025. My hon. Friend may wish to apply for a debate—perhaps Backbench Business or Adjournment—both to make those points and to allow colleagues to speak about their experiences.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I do agree. It is a debilitating and life-altering condition. As my hon. Friend said, our renewed women’s health strategy will set out our longer-term vision. Members from across the House will have concerns about this issue, so my hon. Friend may want to seek a Backbench Business or Adjournment debate.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  As a coastal MP, I absolutely endorse what the hon. Gentleman has said, and if people want to see fantastic regeneration in action, they should come to Whitley Bay. That was the result of the previous Labour Government’s funding and commitment, but the hon. Gentleman’s Government continued it, and it is important that this Government continue it too, as we intend to. This is a really good topic. There are lots of coastal MPs in this place, and I am sure that a debate on the issue, if he sought one from the Backbench Business Committee, would be timely.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Yes, I do recognise that. Cyber-security is a key priority for the Government. We are working with the National Cyber Security Centre to provide businesses, including the companies my hon. Friend talks about, with the tools, advice and support they need to protect themselves against cyber-attacks. The Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill was introduced to Parliament yesterday. It will ensure that the UK is better protected to face down cyber-criminals and state-backed actors.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker— [Interruption.] Mr Speaker, sorry. It is very early in the day. I thank the shadow Leader of the House for his remarks. I join him in thanking you, Mr Speaker, and indeed all House staff, for this week’s work on remembrance events, which provide an opportunity for us, not just as a House but as a nation, to come together each year to pay collective tribute to those who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I also join the shadow Leader of the House in drawing the attention of Members to the remembrance clock at the National Memorial Arboretum, which will serve as a permanent memorial to MPs, peers, journalists and staff who died in war, conflict, and because of acts of terrorism. Mr Speaker, I know that you and the Lord Speaker have written to Members regarding this, but I join the shadow Leader of the House in suggesting that, where possible, colleagues may wish to contribute to that fund. I also draw attention to the fact that the Government have today published their response to the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, setting out plans to mark that period in our nation’s history. My thoughts, and those of the Government, are with the many families who suffered the devastating loss of a loved one during that time. I know that there are members of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice in Parliament today, and we thank them for all they do to provide support to others in their grief. The commemorative programme will ensure that, as a country, we do not forget. This month also marks a number of important awareness campaigns. November is Men’s Mental Health Month, which raises awareness, tackles stigma surrounding men’s mental health and encourages men to seek help and support when they need it. We also recognise Islamophobia Awareness Month. Islamophobia has no place in our society; the Government are clear that we must challenge and eradicate all forms of Islamophobia and ensure that everyone feels safe in their community. I will come to the shadow Leader of the House’s points in a moment, but I am sure the whole House will join me in welcoming the Transport Secretary’s announcement yesterday about plans aimed at reducing long waiting lists for driving tests and preventing slots being sold on at inflated prices. That is good news as not only do many of our constituents take a keen interest in the issue, but many Members across the House have raised it during business questions and on other parliamentary occasions. It is evidence, if we needed it, that the Government are listening to those concerns and are taking action. I will turn now to the shadow Leader of the House’s remarks and, to some extent, put aside his knockabout—except to point out, of course, that it is true that more people are moving across to universal credit, because it was always planned that people would move across in the new system. There is no great surprise there. On the more serious point that the right hon. Gentleman raises, we stand firm in our support for Ukraine and its sovereignty. I am talking not just about this Government but this House: it is important that we get an opportunity to discuss these matters. I will take seriously his reasonable request that we have a debate—certainly before the end of this year—because the Government do stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine. We have a good record of bringing the matter back to the House, particularly through statements, so that the House is updated on any developments, but I do want to give the House an opportunity to debate the matter more fully.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I will look at the hon. Gentleman’s suggestion, but as he knows, if one thing expands, something else is squeezed. I will look at that, but it might not be as easy as he suggests.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Children of armed forces families do face unique challenges. The Government are aware of this and recognise that we can do better by them than has been done in the past. This would be a good subject for a debate so that Members across the House can share experiences and Ministers can learn more about the way forward.