Speeches by Stephenson.

“While you are online, I was quite interested in the things that you were talking about earlier in answer to Sarah Gibson’s questions about the levies—“polluter pays”, premium flyers—and perhaps introducing taxes on oil and gas to fund just transition. Would you mind unpacking that a little more for us and describing wh…”

“Interesting. I do not know if our other stakeholders have any comments. Maybe Tom?”

“I will ask some questions about the finance road map. All witnesses this afternoon have highlighted the importance of unlocking private finance. I might ask all of you to comment if you want to, but how can COP30 help mobilise private finance? Would you like to start, Rachel?”

“6. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to inheritance tax relief on Scotland’s agricultural sector.”

“It is clear that Scottish Labour and this Government do not care and do not understand our rural communities. If we have no farmers, there is no food. Will the Minister listen to the voices of rural Scots, NFU Scotland and communities up and down this country, and ask the Chancellor to rethink this ruinous inheritance …”

“I think that the justification for not changing that approach over many years has been an argument about finality of sentence, and giving the offenders that finality. I do not think that stacks up today; we need to afford victims more rights and more sensitivity within the system. New clause 12 is total common sense, a…”

“Last week, I met one of my constituents, Tracey Hanson, in Parliament to honour the 10-year anniversary of the tragic loss of her son Josh, who was murdered in an unprovoked knife attack in Hillingdon, west London, in October 2015. We spoke about the tireless work that she has put into campaigning for victims’ rights, …”

“The Secretary of State says that she wants to see empowered NHS staff with the right skills to deliver a transformed service, with which I absolutely agree. Level 7 apprenticeships, such as those provided by Cranfield University in Mid Bedfordshire, are so important to delivering that, but the Department for Education …”

“Since this House first learned of the disastrous terms of the Chagos surrender deal, there has been significant focus on the spiralling cost and on the defence and security implications—we have heard many such arguments today. The Government’s weakness has compromised our national security. They are surrendering Britis…”

“There is a difference between talking with other countries and doing a deal. I know that those on the Opposition Front Bench who formed part of the previous Government were not going to do this deal. They may have been talking, but as we have heard, there was going to be no agreement. I thank the hon. Member for his in…”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government are treating China like it is our friend, rather than the threat that it is?”

“I absolutely agree, and I note that the right hon. Gentleman and I are the only Members in the Chamber from the Environmental Audit Committee, which I think is a damning indictment on those Members in this House who are here to protect our environment and hold the Government to account on environmental protections. Wil…”

“The Minister has been asked why further steps were not taken to provide the evidence requested in this case, knowing that the case was on the verge of collapse. He may feel that he has provided clarity, but I am afraid that he absolutely has not. Will he ask the Attorney General to come to this House and make a stateme…”

“The people of Mid Bedfordshire, in response to my survey, said that they do not want digital ID, and nor do I. Does the Secretary of State agree that the individual freedoms of British people are an unacceptable price to pay for failures to enforce existing laws, protect our borders and stop illegal working? Will she p…”

“I have a couple of questions for Leigh on sustainable returns. How do you ensure that your commercial investment decisions maximise sustainable returns for the BBC?”

“You might have answered my final question, at least partly, but to be absolutely clear, given all that context, which platforms and services are you prioritising for future funding?”

“I was going to come on to outputs. How do you measure the benefits?”

“The BBC has very admirable plans to strengthen its delivery for all of the UK. I am just reflecting on a PAC Report from March 2024 that said that the BBC had “begun implementing its programme without a clear plan and could not readily explain the expected impact and benefits for licence fee payers.” Since you are here…”

“You mentioned “in the short term”. Are you concerned in the medium and the long term?”

“One final question before the break. How comfortable are you with the level of borrowing, given the rising costs of borrowing? How comfortable is the board? Do you have any concerns whatsoever to share with the Committee?”