Speeches by Griffiths.

“EIP is a strategy that engages the whole of Government. How will DEFRA use the refresh to get cross-departmental engagement with the refreshed plan?”

“Is there anything else from your colleagues on that?”

“I will make some progress. Who is paying the price for the Government’s economic mismanagement? It is our pensioners. Of the 23,282 pensioners in my constituency of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton—at least 5% more pensioners than in the constituency of Makerfield—nearly 90% will lose their winter fuel payment this year.…”

“Once again in this House we find ourselves discussing Labour’s failure to protect our pensioners. Time and again we have exposed its false narratives and asked how it intends to use technology to reduce costs, improve services and drive productivity. This Government capitulated to the archaic working practices of train…”

“I refer the hon. Gentleman to the comments made by the hon. Member for Gateshead Central and Whickham (Mark Ferguson), who acknowledged that it was indeed the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine that caused such a problem with the UK finances.”

“rose—”

“rose—”

“To be honest, I am absolutely delighted to hear the first Member on the Government Benches acknowledge that there is not a fictitious £22 billion black hole that they are trying to fill, and that they have understood, finally, that the effects of covid and the war in Ukraine are part of the issue they are trying to dea…”

“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I merely wish to set the scene for winter fuel payments.”

“This morning, I received an email from Santander informing me that the Bognor Regis and Rustington branches in my constituency are both set to close. With four other bank branches having shut across the constituency in 2023 alone, the most vulnerable members of our society are being gradually cut off from essential ban…”

“Will the hon. Gentleman give way?”

“Will the hon. Gentleman give way?”

“Can you be specific about the types of skills? Obviously defence covers a range of skillsets.”

“Can I just ask specifically—”

“Before I start, I would just like to refer you to my entry in the register of interests and my directorship of Strategic Risk Control, which is a holding company for a company that operates in the operational technology cybersecurity space and the international defence markets. Moving on from that, starting with both B…”

“What are the specifics that those other countries do that we should be doing? I know we will have to keep it brief.”

“As has been said many times yesterday and today, this Bill is deeply flawed. The Government have ignored the serious concerns raised by business leaders and independent economists. The Federation of Small Businesses has warned that these rushed changes will lead to job losses and deter employers from hiring. The Instit…”

“I think the hon. Lady possibly misrepresents the intent of Opposition Members. We are not anti-trade union; we are anti the drafting of this Bill. I think it is important to make a clear distinction between the two.”

“Indeed, perhaps the Minister will give us the answer.”

“It is a fascinating question, and we wait to hear the answers from Government Members.”