Alan Campbell MP: speeches

Speeches

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend raises an important matter; this is a worrying development, given the known link between marketing and gambling participation and the harms associated with online gambling. I will draw that to the attention of the Minister responsible for gambling in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and ensure that my hon. Friend gets a response.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  As the hon. Gentleman acknowledges, the RAAC replacement scheme has been folded into the new hospital programme—a major Government plan to rebuild and refurbish NHS hospitals. We believe that this will give a greater return on investment, enhance digital technology and improve emergency performance. Patients and staff deserve safe, modern hospitals and an NHS that they can rely on. As the hon. Gentleman has said, the reality is that plans were announced by the previous Government without the money ever being there to pay for them. I can offer him a meeting with Ministers to raise his constituency matters, if that is what he wishes, but I will also draw to the attention of Ministers his remarks about the recent NAO report. I am sure they will be willing to update the House.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  First, I congratulate my right hon. Friend on her award in the new year’s honours, which was extremely well received and very well deserved. I thank her for raising this matter, and I know she has been very vocal about the replacement of the Kennington rail bridge. She has already raised this matter with Ministers, but I would be happy to facilitate a meeting with them to allow her to continue to make her case for her constituents.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  May I express my sympathies to concerned parents and students? From time to time, similar issues have arisen in my constituency, and I appreciate the concern and uncertainty that they create. My hon. Friend knows that this Government are committed to opportunity for all, and education, which is of vital importance, is central to that. I will ensure that she gets a meeting with a Minister, so that she can follow up on this issue as a matter of urgency.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I will certainly draw the hon. Gentleman’s concerns to the attention of the relevant Minister. It is important that we make progress on this matter, and that does involve change, but it is also important that Members are kept up to date. I will get the hon. Gentleman an update.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I join my hon. Friend in commending the GOAT sports bar’s fundraising efforts following that tragic loss. Our community automated external defibrillators fund has recently delivered thousands of new AEDs to local communities, but as always, local communities are best placed to take the lead in providing them where they are most needed. I think this would be a very good topic for a Westminster Hall debate, because I am sure that colleagues from across the House share my hon. Friend’s concerns.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend raises an important case and I commend Katie’s campaign. The murder of Sasha Brett was a tragedy, and my thoughts are with Katie and the rest of the family. We have invested a record £550 million over three years into specialist services to support victims and witnesses, but we are also clear that a lot more needs to be done. My hon. Friend is right to say that the Victims and Courts Bill is making its way through the House of Lords, and I will make sure that the Ministers responsible for the Bill, and the Ministry of Justice, have heard her today.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  As I said in a previous answer, audiology is a vital part of healthcare. I will ensure that the relevant Minister is aware of my hon. Friend’s concerns and updates him on what plans the Government have to improve these services as fast as we possibly can.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  It is important that the voices of parents and those impacted are heard. It is to the credit of my hon. Friend that he is using his voice this morning to raise their concerns. When trusts explore a voluntary transfer, they are expected to engage with parents and the wider community in an open and meaningful way. I hope that the trust has heard my hon. Friend’s remarks, and if he wishes to make his case further, I will ensure that he gets a meeting with the relevant Minister.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  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.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I will ensure that the hon. Lady gets a meeting with the relevant Minister so she can take the issue further.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is not the first Member to raise this important matter. I understand that Capita has recognised the scale of the issue and is recruiting additional staff to deal with it. Like my hon. Friend, I urge Capita to get on with it. I know that this will bring little comfort to Mary and many others, but I hope that there can be progress. Should my hon. Friend seek a meeting with a Minister to discuss these matters, I will arrange it for him.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Our embassy in Mexico monitors the human rights situation very closely, and we continue to engage regularly on human rights matters, including the rights of religious minorities and related issues, with the Mexican authorities. As the hon. Gentleman knows, because we have had exchanges on this matter on a number of occasions, the UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and I will ensure that the Foreign Secretary hears of his concern.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend raises an important case on behalf of his constituent. I understand that he has already written to the Home Office about the matter, but I am happy to follow up with that Department to ensure that he gets a response. Should he want a meeting with Ministers to see what further can be done, I will seek to facilitate that as well.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this interesting matter to the House. The UK is full of incredible quirky history, and I will make sure that the relevant Minister has heard his point. I encourage him to seek an Adjournment debate on the issue he raises, and I hope that NatWest has also heard his remarks.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Tackling the cost of living is a priority for this Government. It is not just a matter of picking out one particular aspect; it is about ensuring that every Department has a role to play in reducing the cost of living for our constituents, and that they get on and do that. As well as Freddos, the hon. Gentleman mentioned energy bills; I remind him that we have reduced energy bills by £150 for every household, including his constituents. The Government’s position on a deal with the EU is very clear; the Minister for the Cabinet Office spelt it out earlier today. There will be ample opportunity going forward to discuss the merits of that deal.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for that tempting offer; I shall see what my diary allows. I join him in recognising the importance of city high streets, which are often at the heart of our local communities. High-street regeneration is a devolved matter, but the Scottish Affairs Committee is undertaking an inquiry on the future of Scotland’s high streets, which I am sure he is watching closely. I hope that the inquiry will come up with further measures to improve high streets, not just in his constituency but across Scotland.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important issue and for his campaign to save Melvin Hall by keeping it in community hands. Its work supporting adults with learning disabilities and their families is admirable, and I congratulate it on that. It is a good opportunity to remind the House that I often criticise the lack of support from Reform councils for local communities, but we must not forget the often dreadful records of Conservative councils. Our new community right to buy, introduced through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, will give communities stronger powers to take ownership of their vital assets, but I wish my hon. Friend and his campaigners all the very best in his campaign.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue; he is a doughty campaigner for his constituents. As I have said, Capita has recognised the scale of the issue and is recruiting additional staff to deal with it, but I hear the frustration from Members across the House. Although we can talk about making progress, that is of little comfort to Mrs Costello and others who are still waiting. I will arrange a meeting for my hon. Friend and other Members across the House if they seek one with the relevant Cabinet Office Minister, so they can further make the case.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  As the hon. Gentleman has just heard, that concern is shared across the House. I invite him to apply for a Westminster Hall debate or an Adjournment debate, so that he and colleagues on both sides of the House can raise those concerns.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is right to raise this matter. As we have said before, we will not hesitate to use the most effective measures against the Iranian regime and the IRGC. We have already implemented 550 sanctions against Iranian-linked individuals and organisations, and we placed Iran on the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme. The Foreign Secretary made a statement this week, and my hon. Friend may wish to attend Foreign Office questions next week to make his point directly to Ministers.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The Government, as my hon. Friend knows, are dedicated to ending the housing crisis. We have already delivered 231,000 new homes since the election and our reforms will lead to the highest level in over 40 years. However, that has to be delivered at a local level. I will reach out to the relevant Minister to ensure that my hon. Friend receives the information required on the specific issue that she raises and can discuss what further action can be taken.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The Secretary of State has made it clear that he is looking at this matter as a matter of urgency and will bring forward his proposals at the earliest opportunity. My hon. Friend will have the opportunity to comment at that point.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising the work of the Nuclear Industry Association and the success of the fifth Nuclear Week in Parliament. As he knows, the Government support the nuclear industry and have committed £17 billion for an ambitious nuclear programme. It is a pity that that ambition is not shared by the SNP, which on these matters seems to care little about the jobs and greater energy security that are associated with projects like these. There will be ample opportunity, as we set out the Government’s proposals on these matters, for him to raise his concerns.

• 22 Jan 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  The Home Secretary has been absolutely clear about the failure of leadership that has harmed the reputation of and eroded public confidence in West Midlands police. The ultimate responsibility for the failure rests with the chief constable, but although we have given a commitment about their future, we would expect police and crime commissioners to step up to the mark as well. The Home Secretary has been very clear about seeking the power to intervene so that chief constables can be held directly to account.