Speeches by Thomas.

“Yes, that is right. They will remove the middle level of local authorities, and they will create unitary authorities and strategic authorities. That might be a bit niche.”

“In the context of local authority inconsistency, how does your sector view the Government’s move to devolution with the creation of strategic authorities, challenge, or risk? To the three of you.”

“Thank you. Anything you would like to add to that, David?”

“You may have answered my second question there, Jon. It was coming to you anyway. The Government will be looking for more creative ways to harness the same information.”

“Yes, and soft power aspects. Jon, any other thoughts?”

“Thanks, David. Jon, I can see you nodding along there, and in fact I think Nick might want to come in as well. Do either of you have anything you would like to add to that?”

“Speaking of filling the coffers, UK Events state that major events deliver £62 billion to the UK economy, and the National Arena Association states that £1 million is spent in areas surrounding events that attract 10,000 spectators. With that context, David, your evidence highlighted the lack of a standard industry cla…”

“Under the last Government, the Conservatives signed a contract for £1.5 billion with Boeing to order five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft. The order reportedly circumvented the MOD’s established procurement system, and the RAF is still without an operational platform. The Ajax scandal has dragged on for even longer, and last we…”

“Does the hon. Gentleman share my concerns that the scheme could put constituents’ most sensitive data into the hands of private, perhaps overseas, individuals who might have neither our constituents’ nor our country’s interests at heart?”

“My hon. Friend speaks well about what is good in the Bill, but there is room for improvement. A number of my Gloucestershire constituents were employees of Gulf Oil before its merger with Chevron. Following the merger, they were moved on to the Chevron pension scheme. Between them, they have hundreds of years of servic…”

“Thank you for your consideration. Clive Jones made representations.”

“I have, but I specifically opted for this, purely because I would like to give Members from around the House, many of whom have spoken of their Gurkha veterans, an opportunity to join a debate.”

“I certainly am, and I should have mentioned—I apologise—that we are hoping for a time no sooner than February.”

“Thank you, Chair, and members of the Committee. For over two centuries, since 1816, the Gurkhas have served with the UK armed forces in defence of UK interests at home and across the world. Our trusted and most loyal Nepalese friends have served with distinction through two world wars and in theatres from the Falkland …”

“In the absence of my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr Dillon), I thank you, Sir Desmond. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Charlie Maynard) for securing this important debate. As a teenaged boy, every morning on my way to school I would stop off at the home of my friend M and we would walk the la…”

“8. What recent assessment she has made of trends in the number of suspensions and exclusions among pupils with SEND.”

“While the suspension rate for pupils without identified special educational needs declined by 75% in the 2024 autumn term, suspensions for pupils with an education, health and care plan increased, according to the Department for Education’s own data. I have previously urged the Government to tackle this crisis centrall…”

“You said there is some real work to be done at the BBC. Along what lines? Do you think any of that work should be done at the boardroom level?”

“Mr Prescott, I happen to agree that this documentary aired a catalogue of interesting circumstances through such a large editorial process. My question is, prior to it airing, did that documentary deviate from the standard editorial or auditing processes in any way?”

“You have mentioned the memo a few times. You have also told us that you sent it to Ofcom and DCMS, and you had that meeting with the BBC. Two weeks later, The Telegraph had that memo, and it said that it was circulating around Government Departments. Do you have any idea how that memo got to those other Departments or …”