Speeches by Shanker.

“From our previous sessions and written evidence from various stakeholders, there are several reasons why establishing a stable pipeline of railway investments has been really challenging. Could you give us an example of how this has had an effect on your organisation and your objectives?”

“I was going to ask for specific examples and what would make things better, but I think you have covered all that.”

“This is a question for Liz, really. In your written evidence you mentioned the Greater Manchester transport strategy 2040 as your guiding document to future pipelines. Do you think that the Government should have a similar document and, if so, what would it look like?”

“Dawn or Mal, do you have anything to add to that?”

“Is that a collective conversation, or are you talking to GBR individually authority by authority?”

“Okay, something slightly different next. There are lots of questions about how the DFT, GBR and the Government can help you guys and your businesses. I am thinking now about how you can help yourselves and the employees in the communities in which you work. To what extent are the UK arms of your business engaged in exp…”

“Specifically on rolling stock—I refer to the Cairo monorail and metro line to Egypt—can either of you see any other future opportunities for exports?”

“What is the present outlook for rolling stock manufacturing for industry? What does it look like at the moment?”

“Recently we have seen some cliff edges narrowly avoided, no more so than in Derby in the last year or 18 months. Our involvement in that is well documented. Do you see any such cliff edges in sight in the near future?”

“On skills, briefly, as an ex-engineering apprentice myself, do you think you are engaging early enough with prospective employees, not at 16 or 18 but much earlier?”

“What is the earliest age at which you engage young people? What are the youngest children you engage?”

“I refer the House to my business interests in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. As a proud advocate of UK aviation, I am pleased to speak in support of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill, and I add my thanks to the Aviation Minister for his determination in support of UK aviation and to the Secretary of Sta…”

“Will the Minister say whether a good licensing regime and, if necessary, revocation of licences would prevent clubs from going into full administration—as in the example of Derby County that my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak described—and the knock-on effect of that on supporters, suppliers and the local communit…”

“I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I also wish you a happy birthday, Mr Speaker. What a wonderful day today is proving to be. As a proud Derby MP, I am delighted to welcome the selection of Rolls-Royce to deliver the first of the UK’s small modular reactors. We know that the …”

“Having access to a safe and secure home is a basic human need, but the Tories absolutely ignored this when they cut Government funding by £4.8 billion in just five years, and Derby has suffered the consequences. Last year, waiting lists for social housing in our city reached record highs. What steps is the Secretary of…”

“10. What steps she is taking to build more social and affordable homes.”

“18. What steps she has taken to help increase economic growth in Derby.”

“Shockingly, in Derby South 62% of adults in the community are financially vulnerable, which is far above the national average of 38%. To lift people out of this vicious cycle, we need a growing economy, but for those who are worried about how they will make it to the next payday, dreading an unexpected bill or struggli…”

“19. What steps he is taking to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises are able to participate in defence procurement contracts.”

“Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of hosting a roundtable and listening to businesses in Derby—small and medium-sized businesses in engineering and manufacturing, including the vital defence sector. With nearly 70% of Government defence spending directed towards businesses outside of London and the south-east, we k…”