Westminster Hall Tackles Fair Power, Sudan Religious Freedom, Cancer Data
High-Level Summary
Westminster Hall took a Select Committee statement on clean power and two Backbench Business debates on freedom of religion or belief in Sudan and on secondary (metastatic) breast cancer. The Scottish Affairs Committee focused on fair community benefits from renewable projects and the need for faster grid upgrades, setting out recommendations and awaiting the Government’s response. MPs then examined grave violations of freedom of religion or belief in Sudan; the Minister outlined UK humanitarian support, sanctions and diplomatic efforts. A wide‑ranging debate on secondary breast cancer centred on counting patients, access to medicines and specialist support, and research, with ministerial commitments on data collection, analytics and research engagement.
Detailed Summary
Scottish Affairs Committee statement: Clean Power and community benefits
Paula Barker opened a Select Committee statement on publication of the Scottish Affairs Committee’s first report of the Session, “Clean Power by 2023: A fair deal for Scotland?”, before Angus MacDonald presented the Committee’s second and final report on its inquiry into the Government’s clean power 2030 mission, including the role of GB Energy, grid upgrades and community ownership: “We cover the achievability of the clean power by 2030 mission, the role of GB Energy… the urgent need for grid upgrades, and the community ownership of clean power.” MacDonald argued current community benefits are inadequate relative to impacts on rural Scotland, noting that in 2024 “only £7 million of community benefit was generated in the highlands, and less than £30 million across Scotland” and citing evidence that “the turbines are generating lots of revenue for somebody but not for them.”
The Committee welcomed a forthcoming mandatory UK community benefit scheme for new generation infrastructure “expected to be introduced by the end of 2027 at the earliest,” but said the proposed £5,000 per megawatt benchmark is insufficient, recommending £10,000–£12,000 per megawatt with protection against erosion over time: “our report finds that that sum is insufficient” and “The Committee recommends that a figure in the region of £10,000 to £12,000 per megawatt would be more appropriate.” It also urged benefits beyond payments—skills, long‑term jobs and housing—suggesting a requirement for “legacy worker accommodation… suitable for permanent community housing.” In questions, Patricia Ferguson pressed the case for faster grid upgrades to reduce curtailment costs; MacDonald agreed “the transmission lines, and the speed of getting them in, are crucial.” Following a question on a Scotland–Northern Ireland interconnector, the Chair asked the Minister to write, and Martin McCluskey indicated assent: “May I ask the Minister to write to Mr Shannon?”; “indicated assent.” The Committee awaits the Government’s response: “The Scottish Affairs Committee looks forward to the Government’s response.”
Backbench Business: Freedom of Religion or Belief in Sudan
Jim Shannon opened by describing Sudan’s descent into mass violence and persecution, saying it had “descended into the largest current humanitarian crisis on earth,” citing estimates of “more than 150,000” killed and “up to 15 million” displaced since April 2023, and noting UN warnings of “hallmarks of genocide” around El Fasher. He detailed attacks on both churches and mosques, including a dawn‑prayer attack near Abdul Shouk “killing over 70 people,” and urged UK action as UN Security Council penholder for a ceasefire, humanitarian access, protection of worship sites, a Sudan‑wide arms embargo and extending the ICC mandate.
Al Pinkerton reaffirmed article 18—“the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”—and called for a Sudan‑wide arms embargo and stronger international coordination. Lincoln Jopp highlighted atrocities and asked about sanctioning Islamist militias: “The US has placed sanctions on the BBMB, but the United Kingdom has not.” Minister Hamish Falconer set out UK action: doubling funding to local responders and “providing a further £146 million in funding for humanitarian relief in Sudan,” with Sudan aid “ring‑ fenced from the wider reductions in aid.” He noted “at least 12 states funnelling arms into Sudan,” ongoing engagement with Quad partners and the UAE, UK sanctions on “24 individuals and entities,” and efforts towards a ceasefire and an “inclusive, civilian‑led transition.” The motion was agreed to: “Resolved, That this House has considered freedom of religion or belief in Sudan.”
Backbench Business: Secondary (Metastatic) Breast Cancer
Clive Jones and Mary Kelly Foy led a debate on incurable secondary breast cancer, stressing that patients are under‑counted and under‑served. Jones said “about 61,000 people in the UK are living with secondary breast cancer,” yet people are “still not consistently counted,” and backed the national cancer plan’s commitment to “defining and counting recurrent cancers, starting with metastatic breast cancer in 2026.” He highlighted access issues, including Enhertu’s rejection for routine NHS use in England in 2024 despite availability “in 26 European countries, including Scotland,” and cited gaps in clinical nurse specialist provision, where “only 65% feel that their specialist has enough time for them.”
Contributors pressed for robust data, specialist support and research—especially into lobular breast cancer. John Milne said there is “no clear national picture” of subtypes; invasive lobular carcinoma sees “Twenty‑two people… diagnosed… every day,” yet there is “no specific treatment pathway,” and he urged £20 million for the Lobular Moon Shot Project. Ashley Dalton, a former Health Minister and patient, underlined the need to count patients—“The cancer plan commits to counting metastatic disease properly, starting with breast cancer”—and the reality that “when we run out of options, we die.” Jim Shannon called for equitable access to Enhertu across the UK, noting it is available in Scotland and “more than 20 other European countries.”
Minister Sharon Hodgson announced implementation steps. She confirmed “a specific commitment… to begin collecting data for recurrent cancers, starting with metastatic breast cancer,” said the National Disease Registration Service has made secondary breast cancer a “key priority,” and, working with Oxford, is developing an algorithm to infer metastatic numbers from routine datasets; crucially, the NDRS “will also publish a baseline assessment… by the end of this year.” She added that the Government is “setting up a new health data research service by the end of this year,” and that funders “are committed to continuing to work with researchers” on lobular breast cancer, with a scientific roundtable this month. The debate concluded without a decision; the motion lapsed without a Question being put.