Speeches by McKinnell.

“Thank you. That is a really thorough response and is very helpful in the circumstances. I want to clarify one further thing, following the earlier discussion around the Defence Nuclear Enterprise—I think it was you, Permanent Secretary, who responded on it—because, as the Chair noted, the increases in spending detailed…”

“Obviously it is reassuring that it is not stopping progress as it needs to happen, but as you say, there is great parliamentary interest. There is also obviously a huge interest from businesses that want to make plans, invest in the UK, create jobs and opportunities and add to our resilience and security. One of the ch…”

“I wanted to ask about the outcome levels that are being looked at, but it is hard to understand the parameters without fully understanding the issues that have just been raised in relation to the options. I just want to be clear about the additional programme spend that you anticipate from having two options rather tha…”

“Okay, fine. It is just helpful to understand how we have got where we are in order to understand where we are going forward.”

“So having to do that for two?”

“Okay. I guess we need some clarity on all of that. Obviously, where you are making such a large and long-term decision, to be clear that the level 4 outcome is the right level to pitch it at, there would need to be quite clear information around what is being compromised, so that there is clarity about the decisions th…”

“It is difficult to move into percentages when we have been talking about actual figures. Are you able to put a figure on that?”

“So it was 2.6% of what?”

“Okay. I guess the question is: how much of it is driven by cost?”

“Presumably outcome level 4, which you have chosen, is at a level that will make the building safe and functional? What Members and the public would probably like to understand is what we are missing out on from levels 5 and 6, so that it is clear what choices are being made in terms of compromise of historical preserva…”

“That is helpful to understand—thank you. I understand that you have looked at a scale of six outcome levels. What are the differences in costs between the outcome levels being considered?”

“For level 5 or for level 6?”

“Okay. Just to be clear, when you are covering atriums with glass, for example, has there been an assessment of whether those atriums are for public use or for Members’ use? To what extent does that compromise the utilisation of the Palace?”

“I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for a fixed recoverable costs scheme to limit the costs that may be recovered in respect of certain cases of clinical negligence; to provide for regular review of the limits set by such a scheme; to amend the Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act 1948…”

“I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. As co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for youth employment, I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement on these new measures. Members will know that Newcastle is home to the country’s best retail and hospitality offer, and I kno…”

“Okay; thank you. Aneen, I want to ask about the fraud defence team’s work and the 130 bespoke risk registers that you operate to. Some have severe and critical activity risks but have not been updated or acted on—some of them for up to five years, it says in the Report. Do you have a sense of how well those existing co…”

“Could you explain that? As I said, in the last four years, the figure is 48p in every pound. Can you explain what is being changed in order to improve that?”

“Are you confident that you have sufficient sight of what is happening throughout that chain of process in order to minimise the fraud risks? I appreciate that you have outlined what the policies are, but what is the reality on the ground? The indications are that there isn’t sufficient oversight, so how are you making …”

“I guess the question is whether they are working.”

“Okay; thank you. Jim, what are you doing to make sure that your commercial teams are increasing the counter-fraud savings and that we see an improvement on the 48p in the pound that is currently the trajectory?”