Speeches by Stephenson.

“Given the scale and significance of the Mandelson files due to be released, why does the Minister not accept that the review of those files over the Whitsun recess would be a good use of everyone’s time, with questions to Ministers being put after 1 June when we return? Is it because Ministers intend to limit scrutiny …”

“I know we are pressed for time, Chair.”

“I am thinking about two things that have happened domestically in the last couple of years. This picks up on Sammy’s earlier questions. One is the land use framework. There are competing demands on how we use our land. The other is the insatiable demand to build homes, with targets going up in the countryside but down …”

“My final question is about the TFFF and the forest risk commodities provisions, which have not been implemented in the Environment Act. Based on your previous response, your recommendation to Government would be to get on with those things. We have heard warm words but seen nothing. Off the back of this report, it woul…”

“The UK is on track to meet only three of 23 global biodiversity framework targets by 2030—which is obviously terrible, unless the targets are also terrible. How do you think that the UK should reconcile the strong national security language in this report with the reality that we are so far off track with many of our d…”

“I will speak to Lords amendments 5C and 6B. Before I do so, may I thank the Minister for working in a collaborative and cross-party way on this issue? I congratulate hon. Members who spoke before me so passionately on behalf of their constituents. I pay tribute to my constituent Tracey Hanson, who is watching this deba…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for securing this very important debate. There are issues with people who rely on super off-peak tickets, particularly at the weekends. Contactless has been introduced to Harlington in Mid Bedfordshire. It is valuable for commuters, but there are families who rely on the super off-peak fares, par…”

“7. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of planned reforms to leasehold on integrated retirement communities.”

“Wixams retirement village in Mid Bedfordshire is a wonderful, integrated retirement community, but I understand from the sector and the industry that that business model is under threat from the Government’s leasehold reforms. Given the important role that these communities can play in reducing social care costs for ou…”

“From the briefings I have had, the expected costs of these options have not been briefed to MPs and you haven’t had engagement from us. Between now and these motions coming before the House, what work are you intending to do with MPs so that they understand the costings, rather than just providing this great document, …”

“With those numbers in mind, do you take the view as a programme management team that you have satisfied your statutory duty?”

“Sorry, I haven’t been on one of your tours either, although I have seen the pictures and it looks quite interesting. I should probably do that.”

“Would you be able to describe the consultation process for this Committee? I am particularly interested to know whether it is genuinely two-way, or whether people are going on a tour, being told stuff, and then disappearing.”

“Can I just pause you? You used the word “briefing”. For me, if I am being briefed, I am being told rather than being asked for an opinion. The nub of my question is to what extent this whole process is geared towards getting feedback. Obviously, you need to inform.”

“Only 38% of newly elected Members have been engaged, consulted or briefed, and 41% in total. I don’t want to be controversial, but clearly your outreach to MPs has not worked as well as it might have done. Had it done, you may have had higher take-up. Are you thinking creatively about how you may get out to MPs and eng…”

“I think we all know how difficult planning is in this country. If it were easier, we would get infrastructure over the line much quicker. Do you have a sense of how much that could cost, in addition to this £95 million to £160 million? What is the dollar value? I have also got judicial review in my mind. I don’t know t…”

“To close the session, I have a few questions on engagement with MPs, but first may I ask some clarification questions about some of the planning risks, which the Chair was talking about earlier? Earlier in the session, you described a cost of between £95 million and £160 million by not going down to one option, and the…”

“Thank you. Moving on to engagement with MPs, right at the start you talked about your statutory duty. Would you just confirm what that is? I think you have been using “consult” and “engage” interchangeably, and those things are quite different.”

“Okay. So thus far, from the numbers you provided earlier, you have consulted with and/or had feedback from 41% of Members and 38% of newly elected Members. Is that right?”

“I guess my advice would be to focus on the money, because we all care about value for money. With some of the upper estimates, we could build 50 hospitals for that. Focusing on what we care about as constituents, there are some trade-offs. Do we spend £50 billion on restoring and renewing a palace, or do we have 50 hos…”