Alan Campbell MP: speeches

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Speeches

16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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This Government recognise the vital role of unpaid carers and are absolutely committed to ensuring that they have the support they need, not least through increasing the weekly carer’s allowance limit. I absolutely join my hon. Friend in thanking Georgette, Melanie and all the hard-working staff and volunteers at Bolton Carers Support and across the country.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I am sorry to hear about the experiences of residents in the hon. Lady’s constituency. The Government have brought forward a road safety strategy, but as she points out, this is more than just a question of road safety; it is about policing too, so I will draw it to the attention of the relevant Ministers and see if there is a way forward.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising such a serious and concerning case. As he knows, the UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and I can assure him that we are treating this case with the seriousness that it deserves. I will ensure that he gets a response from the Foreign Secretary that sets out the actions we are taking.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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Sir David has done wonders in introducing us to, and captivating us with, the natural world. As my hon. Friend will know, we celebrate Earth Day next week, which will also be a great opportunity to better understand our environment and perhaps to appreciate Sir David’s work. I am sure that many Members and communities would welcome the opportunity to celebrate his impressive 100 years and to highlight his many achievements, so I will give my hon. Friend’s suggestion some thought.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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My hon. Friend raises a very serious matter, and I join her in thanking Rachel for her dedication to this issue following her tragic loss, and for the work of Sam’s Superheroes. I join my hon. Friend in awe, as I simply do not know how parents cope with the loss of a child, let alone then to go on and campaign—it is remarkable what some people are able to do. Through the UK rare diseases framework, the Government remain committed to improving the lives of people with rare diseases, including conditions such as FIRES, and I commit to helping my hon. Friend arrange that meeting with the Secretary of State so that they can discuss the matter in detail.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right to champion community-based organisations, not least those in the fine town of Consett, of which I am a son and very grateful for that. Social enterprises and charities provide essential support to the most vulnerable, and they are the golden thread that tie our communities together. I am delighted to hear of the work of the Foundation For Good and others. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster Hall debate or, indeed, an Adjournment debate, so she can highlight the good work being done not just in Consett, but in other areas.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I understand the hon. Gentleman’s frustration if there are railways stations and a railway service that some people are unable to access. The Government have announced an investment of £303 million over four years, via Access for All. I will get him an update from the relevant Minister on what that means for his constituency.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I certainly join my hon. Friend in saying that Her late Majesty was a remarkable individual, not simply because of the time that she gave to public service but because of the way that she conducted herself, and I think she would be immensely proud of the way in which the current sovereign is working. It is the 100th anniversary of her birth, as my hon. Friend says, and I think it appropriate that we pay tribute to her and mark the occasion in some way. I encourage colleagues to sign his early-day motion.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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As my hon. Friend says, the Home Office is consulting on people’s views of changes more widely. I can reassure her that no decision has been made and that children’s welfare and safeguarding duties remain central to this process, as does our compliance with our domestic and international obligations. Any concerns raised by hon. Members will be considered in the consultation, but I will also ensure that the Home Secretary hears my hon. Friend’s concerns.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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My hon. Friend is right to pay tribute to Denise McGuckin. Civil servants work tirelessly to serve our local communities, and they are the very foundations of local government. Chief executives have a tremendously important role to play in leadership, so I join him in wishing Denise a well-deserved retirement after years of dedicated service.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I thank my hon. Friend for his work in this regard. We celebrate the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which is the biggest reform to renting in a generation, but we realise that there is still more that can be done. The Government stand firmly on the side of renters and I will ensure that the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has heard my hon. Friend’s concerns. I will certainly give consideration to his request for a debate at some point in the future, but I also point out that excellent work has been done not only by him but by Southwark council, which I hope residents appreciate.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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The hon. Gentleman is right to draw attention to the importance of the role played not only by carers, but by carers support centres in what are often very challenging situations. I would be interested to receive his feedback from the meeting, and I will ensure we get it to Ministers, so that we can build on the commitment we have given to support carers in every way possible.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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This is a frustrating issue for a lot of people, not least in my constituency, and it is a bit of a moving target for legislation. I will draw it to the attention of the Secretary of State and see where we can get.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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It is a tempting offer, and I encourage the House to support my hon. Friend’s efforts to demonstrate what a fantastic part of the country he represents. I share his view about counties and county days—they are, indeed, important. I cannot offer him Government time to do this, but if he seeks an application for a Backbench Business or Westminster Hall debate, I am sure that people who represent counties right across the country will come and share his view about the importance of county identities.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I join the hon. Member in wishing the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Bobby Dean) well, and we await news with bated breath—at least he might get the nursery finished by the time of the arrival. The hon. Member makes a serious point about the Sudan civil war. The Government are doing everything we can, not just to help to address the humanitarian situation, but to try to get an end to that war. We have committed £146 million in aid to Sudan and have sanctioned Rapid Support Forces commanders. We are doing everything we can, but I join her in hoping that the conflict ends soon. We are not shy in updating the House on this matter and will continue to do so. I will draw her remarks to the attention of the Foreign Secretary. I will not comment on the President of the United States’ comments and the effect they are having, because I think we can see that play out not just in the hon. Member’s constituency but elsewhere. The real answer from the Government is that we are absolutely focused on doing everything we can in the national interest to see if we can ensure the ceasefire continues, but also to bring an end to the conflict. She is right to point out that the economic situation is very serious, too—possibly the most serious energy crisis in the last half century. The economic impact may well be beginning to be felt and may continue for some time. Again, there are lots of suggestions about what we might do. The Government are absolutely focused on this. We will not rush to judgment about action that we need to take now—we have already taken some targeted measures, not least on heating oil—but we are absolutely focused on that, and I reassure the House that we will continue to do so. We are looking at all of that, and I am sure that, again, because we are not shy of doing so, when the opportunity arises, there will be an opportunity for further statements on these matters. I hope the House can come together not just to ensure that we have a firm view going forward in the international situation, but on how we can combat the economic issues that I am afraid are likely to continue for some time.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I know that my hon. Friend is a keen campaigner on these matters. I am sure that the Met police will have heard her comments. Where there is the threat of a demonstration turning to violence or disorder, the Met police have a responsibility to take that very seriously indeed, even if it takes a while to agree how, or indeed whether, that march will take place. It does not matter which part of the political spectrum it comes from; what matters is security on our streets, and we trust the Met police to get on with that.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I join my hon. Friend is welcoming the change. As he rightly points out, it will help to protect vulnerable people in our communities. I join him in thanking Jo, Debt Justice and, indeed, Martin Lewis for their work. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for an Adjournment debate on the topic so that he can give further consideration to, and hear from Ministers on, those important points.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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That is quite a bid, Mr Speaker— I have not heard that one before. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his work and the work of the Committee and for updating us on the business. The hon. Gentleman mentioned the Standing Orders. As he knows, we are bringing forward a number of Standing Orders relating to the work of his Committee. I made a commitment that we would do that before the end of this Session, and we are committed to sticking with that. I cannot tell him the exact day, but I am committed to doing that, so that is what we will do. I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on the way in which he got his private Member’s Bill through this place, because it was quite an achievement. I am sorry to hear that the Act has not yet had the anticipated effect. I know that he remains an assiduous campaigner on these matters—I think he has met Ministers and continues to press them. I cannot guarantee him Government time, so I hope that you will listen carefully to his plea, Mr Speaker, and then he can hear directly from the relevant Minister about what the plan is. In the meantime, I will take it up with the Minister because, as the hon. Gentleman points out, his concern is shared by Members across the House.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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The Government are clear that access to sport is important for young people, irrespective of their circumstances and their disability. I thank Thurrock rugby club and the people mentioned by my hon. Friend for their efforts in this regard. I think this topic would be ideal for an Adjournment debate, where my hon. Friend could give further weight to the case that she is making.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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This is not the first time that hon. Members have raised concerns about Reform-led Staffordshire county council, which has clearly overpromised and underdelivered. These business question sessions have made it clear to me that Reform is failing in local government and is seeking—perhaps as an excuse—to divide our local communities. We have published our road safety strategy, but I encourage my hon. Friend to seek a Westminster Hall debate on that particular topic, because his concerns are shared by a number of colleagues, not least on the Labour Benches.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I am sorry to hear of what happened to Ryan—no family should have to go through that. My hon. Friend raises an important matter; the Government have just announced a knife crime strategy, and I will bring to the attention of the relevant Minister my hon. Friend’s comments about bleed kits, because they have an important role to play. First aid can save lives in these situations, so I will make sure that the relevant Minister hears her concerns.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter and for championing the work of Tale of 2 Cities. Local charities are the golden thread that runs through our communities, and they do a fantastic job. The Government are keen to support them, not least because we are taking action on child poverty, scrapping the two-child limit and focusing on the cost of living. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster Hall debate, so that she can ask the Minister who responds what the next steps in the Government’s plan are.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating Bathgate railway station, its staff and the volunteers who helped to bring the celebration together. I particularly mention volunteers because they play such an important role in our local communities. It is vital that communities have access to joined-up transport systems. The Government have recently announced the “Better Connected” strategy for England, so we are on the side of the people she is talking about.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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The hon. Gentleman will know that I am very keen— not least because I have a coastal constituency—to ensure that coastal communities get the support that they need. The reality is that the Government are putting a great deal more resource into the NHS. There are still difficult decisions to be made, and I encourage people to make their voices heard. I am sure that as the NHS deliberates on the best way forward for his hospital, those voices will be heard.
16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source
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I certainly congratulate everyone involved in the commemoration of the Monkland railway. It is, from the hon. Lady’s account, one of the oldest lines, and I know how important such lines are from knowledge of my region, where the first railways were developed—similarly to hers—for work on the coalfield. I congratulate everybody involved in that railway, and I hope that their celebrations are successful.

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