Speeches by Baker.

“To come back to the plight of Afghans, presumably your work continues. We are approaching the cliff edge on the transitional accommodation for Afghans that have come, in December this year. Have you any thoughts on how the Government are approaching the risk around that cut-off? Homelessness is the big risk in all of t…”

“It is really inspiring to hear you talk about the work you have done sticking up for people who do not have a voice. You should be really proud of that work. The LGA is clear—we have already talked about this—that the lack of co-ordination between Government Departments is clearly a huge issue. Obviously, there is a de…”

“Exactly, yes.”

“Looking at the whole course of the resettlement programme across the whole piece, what did each Government get right and what should they have done differently?”

“As it stands, you were the only people who were left to make the checks on what was happening. What does that tell us about where the gaps in oversight are when Governments take on unusual steps, as they have in this case?”

“I am interested in the idea that there could have been a different way of doing this and of acknowledging the lack of accountability that has gone on in all of this. Do you think there could have been provisions put in place for secrecy while briefing the Intelligence and Security Committee so that there was some basis…”

“The CGS has talked a lot about a “one defence” approach and how you create these ecosystems. I am really interested in what you think of the sort of place-based approach we are taking with the growth deals. How can our armed forces interact with that sort of place-based approach to get the right outcomes for them and d…”

“My thinking is: how you do then reach the places beyond these five places? Obviously, the Government have been really clear that defence is an engine for growth and has to reach every corner of the country. How do we get the right skills into our young people and veterans—the people looking for these jobs right across …”

“It is obviously great to see Barrow’s legacy beyond itself being delivered by this Government. I am going to take it as a given that you are positive about this sort of place-based approach. We have five growth deals. We then have five defence technical excellence colleges. How entwined are those two things? Can you de…”

“Nepal has seen so much change in recent weeks. Widespread protests over corruption very sadly led to 72 people losing their lives, with many more injured. On a more positive note, a new interim Government has been peacefully formed, including the historic appointment of the country’s first woman Prime Minister, Sushila…”

“I thank the Secretary of State for his statement, and I welcome the Government’s focus on a protections package for veterans. Last week, I met David, Ishbel and Gary from Yateley and Hawley Royal British Legion, who do an excellent job supporting veterans in my community. We discussed the new veterans protection packag…”

“I welcome the defence industrial strategy. In Aldershot and Farnborough, we have a strong ecosystem that includes the home of the British Army, Standing Joint Command, QinetiQ and a hub of amazing SMEs on Cody technology park, so I am really pleased to see the Government acknowledging my community’s role in putting the…”

“I welcome the five new defence technical excellence colleges just announced, but we need a skills pathway right across the country. I have been working with ADS on a defence curriculum that could be delivered across colleges and universities nationwide. What plans does the Minister have to support defence learning righ…”

“I thank the Defence Secretary for the update and for his continuing leadership on this issue. We have all been so moved by the extraordinary bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression, and in my constituency we know how important it is to stand by our friends in Ukraine. In my cons…”

“Illegal working not only undermines the integrity of our immigration system, it erodes trust in our communities. In Aldershot, constituents have raised concerns about people continuing to work illegally even after reports have been made to the Home Office. That risks leaving local people feeling that the system is neit…”

“I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. We say also to the engineers in Farnborough whose innovations helped bring victory within reach, to the Gurkhas whose courage lit up the darkness of war, and to the prisoners who endured, the families who waited, and the loved ones who never came home: we remember, we h…”

“When we mark VJ Day—victory over Japan—we remember the true end of the second world war. The far east campaign saw some of the harshest conditions of the entire war: jungle warfare, searing heat and a determined enemy. It also saw acts of extraordinary courage and enduring suffering, particularly among those taken pris…”

“The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached horrific levels. Israel’s aid delivery model has failed to meet humanitarian needs. As a mother, I cannot bear to watch children being murdered. My constituents cannot bear to watch. I welcome the statement, but what are the Government doing to deliver the three actions th…”

“Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the staff, pupils and governors at Henry Tyndale community school on the official opening today of their new park campus in Aldershot, a vital new facility for students aged four to 19 with complex learning difficulties? This outstanding school is named after Henry …”

“The Minister has heard me talk about my constituent Brendan West, a veteran who lived unknowingly with hepatitis C for decades after being infected through a military blood transfusion. Brendan talks about how he feels lucky to be alive, but his view is that successive Governments continued to delay justice for him by …”