Irene Campbell
MP for North Ayrshire and Arran · Labour · United Kingdom
“New nuclear in areas such as my constituency of North Ayrshire and Arran could bring much-needed skilled jobs and investment to the area, but yet again Scotland is losing out.”
“I would just like to highlight that the Scottish Government do not record or publish any statistics on the number of patients being treated in corridors. However, we know that it happens. The Crosshouse hospital, which serves my constituency, was recorded in January as having one of Scotland’s most under-pressure emergency departments.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alec. I thank the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) for opening this debate and for bringing attention to this important matter. I will keep this brief, as most points have already been raised.”
“I will just add that coastguard rescue officers perform safety checks and maintain equipment, as well as supporting the emergency services, searching for missing people, rescuing people who may be trapped on cliffs or drowning, and often dealing with people in difficult and distressing situations.”
“It is important to note that most European countries screen for breast cancer between the ages of 50 and 69, although there is some variation in age ranges and frequency, with countries such as Albania, Iceland and Sweden starting screening at 40.”
“Over half of breast cancer cases occur in women outside the national screening age, and one in six occur in women under 50. Men, too, get breast cancer; however, they make up approximately 1% of all cases.”
The complete record
Every one of 303 lines we hold for Irene Campbell, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 7.
“I beg to move, That this House has considered e-petition 728677 relating to type 1 diabetes testing for infants. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alec. I thank the petitioner, Mr John Story, for starting the petition and telling us the devastating story of what happened to his daughter Lyla, who tragically died when the warning signs of type 1 diabetes were missed. I also congratulate him on gathering over 120,000 signatures from across the United Kingdom on a topic that I know is incredibly important to him and many others: in my North Ayrshire and Arran constituency, there were 204 signatures.”
“I agree with the points that my hon. Friend raises. The research and emerging information from the ELSA study should be considered as soon as possible. In Diabetes UK’s campaign, the four Ts stand for “toilet”, “thirsty”, “tired” and “thinner”. Recognising those symptoms is key to the campaign. In preparation for this debate, I met representatives of the Royal College of General Practitioners, who advised me that after hearing Lyla’s story, they urgently reviewed their curriculum and made sure that their continuing professional development resources adequately covered type 1 diabetes symptoms in children and followed NICE guidelines. They also said that they are working with NHS England colleagues on the availability and use of point-of-care capillary blood testing for type 1 diabetes. That is a rapid finger-prick glucose test.”
“I thank the hon. Member for raising that important point. I look forward to the Minister’s response. The rapid finger-prick glucose test is readily available and can be administered quite easily.”
“As GPs look for the most common diseases in the first instance, they might not think that a glucose test is necessary. It is important to highlight the fact that GPs have the broadest medical specialty. However, the recent RCGP survey found that 64% of members say they do not have enough time to undertake training or continuing professional development alongside their practice work. In addition, the average GP cares for more than 2,300 patients, which is 16% more patients than in 2015, and in deprived communities that figure is significantly higher.”
“I thank my hon. Friend for raising that important point. Again, I refer to the Minister’s response. This is a very important issue, and it is crucial that we get it right. There can be barriers to diagnosis if there is the appearance of another illness, such as a cold or tonsillitis, that can make diabetes more difficult to recognise. Young children are often unable to fully express themselves in relation to symptoms, which can be problematic. There must be more awareness of that possibility. Tragically, as we have heard today, some cases can be missed. The RCGP said that a GP may not ever see another child in their practice with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, and that it is a rare occurrence. Time pressures were also commented on. The appointment length is inadequate to deal with potentially more complex issues.”
“They could be reviewed to recommend that type 1 diabetes be tested for much earlier, and that an infant need not have all the listed symptoms in the guidelines before testing, as the four Ts on their own are not very sensitive at picking up type 1 diabetes. NICE guidelines could prioritise earlier testing of glucose, making checks immediate and not postponed.”
“I thank my hon. Friend for making that important point. Yes, I agree. The survey also found that 73% of GPs report that patient safety is being compromised by their workload pressures, and 58% said that they do not have enough time during appointments to adequately assess and treat patients. It is concerning to hear that a high number of GPs do not have time for professional development and quality development. While the number of patients GPs are expected to see rises, the pressure is higher and patient satisfaction is poorer. Another important point to note is that the NICE guidelines are from 2015.”
“I agree with what my hon. Friend says. As I say, I am looking forward to hearing the Minister’s response on how we can make progress. As we have heard, DKA is a life-threatening complication of diabetes, which is caused by extreme insulin deficiency. We urgently need to change and reduce the rates of DKA. One issue is that it is difficult to know exactly how many children have been missed, discharged and reassured after presenting with these symptoms who will then return for later diagnosis. As well as young children, adolescents have high rates of presenting with DKA, which can be compounded by factors such as deprivation and ethnicity. That must also be taken into consideration.”
“I thank my hon. Friend for raising that point. Yes, I agree. That sounds like a very good way to take this forward. The petition and the surrounding conversation can serve as a call for change, not only for young children and infants but for all undiagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes who are at risk of their condition leading to dangerous complications. In the words of the petitioner, “Lyla was bright, full of life, and had her whole future ahead of her. But in a matter of days, everything changed. She became unwell, and like so many parents, we trusted the system to protect her. That trust was misplaced. By the time her condition was recognised, it was too late.” I look forward to other hon. Members’ contributions and to the Minister’s response.”
“I also thank the Royal College of General Practitioners; Dr Rachel Besser, a consultant at the University of Oxford who is leading the T1 early research programme and undertaking work on screening for childhood type 1 diabetes; and Dr Parth Narendran, who leads the ELSA study at the University of Birmingham. Each of those experts kindly took the time to meet me and answer questions on this multifaceted clinical topic. Finally, as ever, I thank the staff of the Petitions Committee for all their help in organising this debate and the related meetings. Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 728677 relating to type 1 diabetes testing for infants.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. The petition and the surrounding debate focus on a very important and sensitive area: the importance of timely diagnosis. I thank Mr John Story again for his tireless campaigning on Lyla’s law and for taking the time to meet me to tell his story. I hope, as he does, that no parent ever again has to go through what he and his wife Emma have gone through. I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham (Dame Diana Johnson), who has supported the petitioners in her capacity as the local MP and will be attending tomorrow’s meeting with the Secretary of State.”
“We know that conflict can dis-proportionately affect women and children and exacerbate gender-based violence. We cannot let this crisis in Sudan be ignored. There has been an alarming rise in gender-based violence and sexual abuse against women and girls. Can the Foreign Secretary tell me what further steps her Department is taking to tackle this horrific abuse against women and girls in Sudan at this time of conflict?”
“Q11. In 2024, 2.64 million animals were used in medical experiments in the UK. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on phasing out animal experiments in medical research, I think it is important to note that an estimated 92% of drugs fail in human clinical trials, even though they have passed pre-clinical tests, including animal tests. Innovative non-animal research methods are increasingly available and provide viable alternatives. I very much welcome our “Replacing animals in science” strategy, but for this to be meaningful, a robust implementation timeline must be set. I ask the Prime Minister to consider leading the way by introducing an immediate ban on the use of dogs in these often-horrific experiments.”
“An SMR and new nuclear at Hunterston power station would make a huge difference to my constituency, given that nearly 650 people are already employed in highly skilled and well-paid jobs in the civil nuclear sector there. I was concerned to read a BBC article about a Scottish nuclear worker who relocated from Hunterston to Hinkley because there is no new nuclear in Scotland. Does the Secretary of State agree that we are losing talent and investment because of the SNP’s continuous opposition to nuclear?”
“Those cases of non-compliance are particularly concerning, and we also need to look at how well standards are being enforced in testing facilities—as we have heard already today. Given that almost 70% of cases were self-reported, this just is not good enough. We must look at another way of doing this. I was glad to see the Government’s strategy on replacing animals in science come out last November. In particular, I welcome the £75 million of funding for new testing methods and the establishment of a UK centre for the validation of alternative methods. However, I was disappointed to see missed opportunities around, for example, the forced swim test and the LD50 test. It is vital that timelines are introduced to enable a true phasing out of animals in medical research. I am looking forward to hearing the Minister’s response.”
“205, c. 1237.] It is sad to think that we are still debating this topic almost 100 years later. As a Scottish MP, I was particularly concerned to see that in 2024 over 200,000 experiments were carried out on animals in Scotland. That was an 8.2% decrease from the previous year. However, it compares to Wales, which had a 16.7% decrease in experiments from 2023. Although I welcome the decreases, they must definitely be much quicker. As we have heard today, the Animals in Science Regulation Unit report from 2024, showed that 189 animals experienced adverse welfare outcomes; 54 of those cases were due to failure to provide adequate care, and nine were due to failure to provide food and water, sometimes for up to five days.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir John. I thank the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan) for securing this important debate and setting out the arguments so well. I declare my interest as chair of the APPG on phasing out animal experiments in medical research. As some Members may already know, I have been a vegan since 1993, and this is a topic that I feel very passionate about. I have spoken on this issue several times and it does not get any easier. In a previous debate on testing on dogs, I quoted a debate from 1927, in which it was said: “Experiments on dogs may now be discontinued. All that can be found out by physiological experiments for application to human beings has long since been discovered, and repetitions are unnecessary and cruel.” —[ Official Report , 29 April 1927; Vol.”
“Reports have shown animals accidentally crushed in a compacter, a primate dying after being trapped in a cage unnoticed, animals falling out of a vehicle and being lost, and many dying of thirst or hunger or drowning in flooded cages. Does my hon. Friend agree that those cases of non-compliance are unacceptable, that more must be done to avoid them happening in future and that the people who allow them to happen must face the consequences?”
“I should have said this earlier, but I am chair of the all-party parliamentary group on phasing out animal experiments in medical research. Does my hon. Friend agree that the evidence is there, and that we can move much more quickly towards a place where animals are no longer needed in research?”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. The strategy is of course hugely welcome, but there are no timelines associated with much of the strategy. For it to work effectively and get us to where we need to be, we need timelines. Is there any indication of when timelines are likely to be made clear to us?”
“In my constituency of North Ayrshire and Arran, healthy life expectancy is currently 52.5 years for women and 52.6 years for men. That is, shockingly, the lowest in Scotland and provides clear evidence of increasing health inequalities compared with other parts of Scotland. Years ago, the Glasgow effect was often cited when looking at life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, but I fear that we now also have a North Ayrshire effect. Does the Minister agree that this is no way for people to start their lives and that the Scottish Government must do more to address these inequalities, given that they have had the biggest financial settlement in the history of devolution?”
“The Animal Welfare Act states that local authorities “may prosecute proceedings for any offence under this Act”, But that relies on individuals whistleblowing on offending organisations. That can allow suffering to carry on far too long. There are already many examples on which legislation could be based—Scotland’s legislation, the Welsh code of practice, the RSPCA standards and the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes standards. The foundations are already there. The sector is aligned on the need for action, as I am sure the upcoming consultation will show.”
“When I met staff from the Blue Cross, they told me about the many animals that they had found being kept in inappropriate circumstances for long periods. For example, one dog had lived in a blank kennel for eight years with no kind of enrichment. The rescue thought that the dog was simply sedate, but really he had just given up on life. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is not sufficient: it keeps an animal alive, with a safe environment, diet and housing, but it does not address the specific issues that arise in rescue shelters, such as the spread of disease. Dog and cat rescues should ensure that pets are safe and suitable to go back into the public domain, and that they have a good quality of life over long periods.”
“Work is already going on between small organisations and the bigger charities: larger groups can advise and support the smaller organisations. That would continue as we transitioned to a licensing model. Under the current laws, anyone can set up a rescue. I think we would all agree that is not acceptable. The fact that there are no standards or training can lead to the illegal import of animals, the outbreak of disease and poor hygiene standards. Without regulation, those dangerous practices will only continue. Nor have we any data on how widespread they may be, as without legislation there is no formal tracking of dog and cat rescue homes across the country. We know that the current system is not working, as we know of many sorry cases in which it has failed.”
“It is important for the law to draw a distinction between being a cat lady and being an unofficial rescue that is overcrowded with animals. Unfortunately, there are also cases of people running rescue homes with financial and malicious motivations. The worst scenarios include very dangerous practices, including rogue traders masquerading to the public as something they are not. Nobody wants to close small organisations, so it is important that smaller dog and cat rescues be supported through a transition and that cats and dogs be moved to other rescues where it is completely necessary. Rescuers should have the opportunity to move through legislation and structure and be supported with grants, for example from the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes.”
“Its consultation on licensing animal welfare establishments found that 82% of respondents were in favour of licensing; the Welsh Government announced in June 2025 that they would prioritise taking forth the proposals of the consultation. England now has a great opportunity to join the rest of Great Britain and catch up with licensing these organisations. There are many establishments that are not meeting standards but have good intentions. Well-meaning individuals can find themselves out of their depth and have no structure or training to know what is best. Once organisations are known to be local rescues, they can be inundated with animals left on their doorstep. A lack of knowledge and training is putting animals at risk, along with staff exhausted by malpractice and people who choose to adopt from the rescue.”
“It is clearly not unusual for animal activities to be licensed, so the petitioner and many others believe that rescue and rehoming centres should be the next step. In England, there is currently no statutory code for rescue centres; there are only voluntary frameworks. They include the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals code of practice for animal welfare establishments and the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes standards, to which the Government’s response refers. However, Scotland has already introduced a licensing system for dog and cat rescues under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. Similarly, Wales has had a code of practice for animal welfare establishments since 2020.”
“We call on the Government to introduce mandatory licensing and regular inspections to ensure rescues operate transparently and uphold high welfare standards. Regulation is essential to prevent cruelty, improve accountability, and ensure all rescued animals receive proper care. By introducing clear legal requirements, the Government can safeguard animal welfare, protect public confidence in rescues, and prevent organizations from operating irresponsibly.” However, it is important to acknowledge that most animal rescues do great work. Many activities associated with animals must already be licensed under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, including selling pets, providing boarding for cats and dogs, hiring out horses, dog breeding and keeping or training animals for exhibition.”
“I beg to move, That this House has considered e-petition 718660 relating to the licensing and regulation of animal rescue centres. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alec. I thank the petitioner Paul Watkinson and his colleague Niki Roe for their hard work in gathering almost 110,000 signatures for this petition, which is a fantastic achievement. The petition, which is entitled “Introduce Licensing and Regulation for Dog and Cat Rescues to Protect Welfare”, states: “Many UK animal rescues operate without clear legal oversight, creating opportunities for unethical practices. Some rescues have been linked to supporting irresponsible breeding, neglecting animals, or misusing public donations. Without enforceable standards, there is a risk that animals suffer in poor conditions, and public trust is undermined.”
“I am happy to see the actions outlined in the strategy, including the commitment to launch a consultation on licensing rescue and rehoming organisations and developing the evidence base on welfare issues. Rescue animals are some of the most vulnerable animals. It is important that as lawmakers we do our best to fully protect them. Being a registered rescue should not be voluntary, and the Government are right to take steps to address the issue. It is important that when we set goals such as these, we have a clear road map. I look forward to the Minister’s response and am keen to hear the timelines associated with the consultation.”
“Although the petition closed in October 2025, the Government responded in July 2025, advising that all animal rescue organisations have to meet existing protections under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and that individuals contact the local authority if an organisation is not meeting them. Their response also advised that members of the public can check whether a rescue centre is a member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, which has standards for rehoming, neutering and training, among many other matters. It is important to consider that the Government’s new animal welfare strategy, which was launched in December 2025, addresses the topic of dog and cat rescues.”
“I agree that that would be a good step forward. It is also important to strike an appropriate balance when setting regulations. If regulations are too exacting, people may begin to shop rather than adopt, possibly importing from abroad. Another common issue is that dog and cat homes often end up taking in other species—so-called exotic pets or wild animals, for example—that they may not be qualified to take in. In future, it may be worth looking at regulating all forms of animal rescue centre to prevent the abuse of all species. The enforcement of any future animal welfare legislation is key, because otherwise new licensing will not be effective. It is important that the local authorities that will inspect the organisations be upskilled and capable of dealing with new, rigorous systems.”
“Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 718660 relating to the licensing and regulation of animal rescue centres.”
“I very much welcome the Minister’s response. This has been an important and informative debate. The animal welfare strategy is a big step forward in the right direction, and I am proud to be part of a Labour Government who are taking steps to correct some of the gaps in our animal welfare legislation. We have a massive opportunity to create change and I am looking forward to the consultation that is coming soon from the Government, as we have just heard. I once again thank the petitioner, Paul Watkinson, and his colleague Niki Roe, as well as the groups that I met in preparation for this debate. I also thank, as ever, the staff of the Petitions Committee for all their hard work in organising these debates. As a final point, I should probably have mentioned that I am the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for dog advisory welfare.”
“I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate. An assessment of male chick culling found that the cost to introduce in-ovo sexing of eggs in this country would be approximately 1p per egg. I visited a facility in the Netherlands on Monday, and it costs approximately €0.01 per egg there.”
“I realise that, sadly, the proposal may go through, but I wanted to voice my concerns about the implications of restricting public scrutiny of animal testing and allowing facilities that use animals in research to receive protection under the auspices of key national infrastructure.”
“In 2017, the Home Office released figures showing that 1.8 million additional animals, including 97 beagles, were bred for animal research but were never used. We do not know what happened to those animals and there is no trace of the outcome, but I think we can all guess. As we have heard, the strategy for replacing animals in science came out only last month. I feel that the proposal contradicts its goals by calling animal testing facilities key national infrastructure. Surely the SI hinders our Labour manifesto commitment to supporting scientists to transition from animal-based to human-specific medical research and work. The disappointing defence of animal experimentation runs counter to both public opinion and scientific evidence.”
“By reclassifying animal testing facilities as key national infrastructure and by increasing the powers available to respond to protest activity viewed as disruptive, this proposal will oppress the public’s right to protest about animal welfare. In my view, the argument that that is necessary to protect the UK’s pandemic preparedness and its ability to produce vaccines is not valid. An estimated 92% of drugs fail human clinical trials, despite having passed pre-clinical tests, including animal tests. Our bodies are not the same as animal bodies, so it is not surprising that our drugs are not translating well from one species to another. Only 14% of the UK public think it acceptable to use dogs in medical research to benefit people, which means that 86% of people think it is wrong.”
“Thank you for allowing me to speak, Sir Alec, although I am not a member of the Committee; it is much appreciated. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. As a new MP and a new chair of the all-party parliamentary group on phasing out animal experiments in medical research—the right hon. Member for Herne Bay and Sandwich chaired its predecessor APPG some 40 years ago—I feel that I must make my feelings on this matter known. When we speak about key national infrastructure and life sciences, it is really about the beagles and all the other animals that are tested on in laboratories. I have received many emails from constituents and organisations who are extremely concerned.”
“I very much welcome the strategy, but it contains no timeline whatsoever for when testing on dogs will end, so I would welcome the Minister’s comments on that.”
“My constituent Dr Sam Rice has set up a grassroots charity called Kids For Now, which supports parents who want to delay smartphones for their children. There is much evidence to support that approach. For example, Ofsted has found that 80% of teenage girls are put under pressure to provide sexual images of themselves, which often end up online. Does the Minister agree that the effect that online misogyny has on children must be tackled?”
“T8. Until the 1980s, my constituency of North Ayrshire and Arran was home to one of the world’s largest explosives factories, in Ardeer, Stevenston, which in its heyday provided employment for around 15,000 people. I welcome that Ayrshire has been identified as one of the 13 potential sites across the UK for new munitions and energetics factories. We would very much welcome another opportunity to support defence, either by expanding the munitions site at Beith or by welcoming a new facility. Can the Secretary of State confirm when the outcome of the successful sites will be announced?”
“The Largs to Glasgow line is a well-used service, especially in the more rural parts of my constituency. I have recently received many complaints from constituents on a range of issues: serious disruption with trains running late, being severely delayed, signalling issues and loss of power to the track. Does the hon. Member agree that that is just not good enough from the SNP Government, and that ScotRail and Network Rail must work together to ensure a timely and accessible service for all passengers, with a reliable timetable?”
“Does the Minister agree that with a Labour Government at Holyrood working with a UK Labour Government, constituencies like North Ayrshire and Arran could be much better off, because nuclear policy in Scotland could change and sites like Hunterston, which is currently blocked from investment by SNP policy, could be developed to support small modular reactors, bringing good jobs to the community and playing a key part in our energy supply?”
“The Mental Health Foundation stated in its manifesto recommendations for next year: “Scotland is in the grip of a public mental health emergency, characterised by lengthening waiting lists for diagnoses and treatment, extended absences from work and a mental health workforce stretched towards breaking point.” That situation makes it particularly challenging to focus on those with a terminal illness. Finally, it is important, when we speak about mental health support for those with terminal illnesses, that we recognise that it must be delivered in a timely and effective way, to ensure that people have the best support available at the most difficult time, when they absolutely require it.”
“Sadly, people in their final months of life are experiencing not only health inequalities, but economic inequalities, exacerbating the need for good, timely and appropriate specialist mental health support. I recognise the excellent work undertaken by Ayrshire hospice, such as its community-based “living well” hubs and clinics. However, more must be done to support those in need of specialist mental health support, especially at such a traumatic time for not only the person, but their family, friends and wider circle. New figures from National Records of Scotland show that people in North Ayrshire have the lowest healthy life expectancy in Scotland, at 52.6 years for men and 52.5 years for women. That is about 14 years shorter than for people in areas with the highest healthy life expectancies, and it cannot be allowed to continue.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale West (Mr Rand) for securing this important debate and for his excellent speech sharing Sarah and Mike’s experience. As a former manager in the NHS, I was shocked to read the recent report by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, which described how thousands of people with terminal illnesses spend their final months in poverty, and how the situation is particularly severe in North Ayrshire. In my constituency, high rates of socioeconomic deprivation worsen the quality of life for many people, let alone for those with a terminal illness.”
“I know this is a topic my constituents care about deeply, and I am proud to be representing their views, as well as those of the nearly 200,000 people who signed the petition.”
“We believe this must done urgently with urgent deadlines, with or without Israeli support.” The Government responded to the petition in August, noting that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification had issued an alert warning that the worst-case scenario—famine—was unfolding. They also noted that “All routes to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza are controlled by and must be approved by the Government of Israel.” And, therefore, the UK “has collaborated with regional partners on alternative routes for aid to get into Gaza, including air drops and a maritime corridor.” I believe that this conflict has touched many people across the world. I am sure that every Member in this room will have received high numbers of correspondence from constituents about the ongoing situation.”
“I beg to move, That this House has considered e-petition 700682 relating to humanitarian obligations and Gaza. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. The petition was started in January 2025 and is titled “Urgently fulfil humanitarian obligations to Gaza”. It reads: “Act to ensure delivery of fuel, food, aid, life saving services etc. We think this shouldn’t be dependent/on condition of Israeli facilitation as the Knesset voted against UNRWA access to Gaza. We think if military delivery of aid, airdrops, peacekeepers etc, are needed, then all be considered. Israel does not agree to ceasefire and does not permit UNRWA access. We think the UK must find alternative means to deliver aid.”