Speeches by Hazelgrove.

“Indeed. Listening, acting and thinking of future generations: this is clearly a new Government. Our plan for change will build the infrastructure that Britain needs to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good, and I look forward to supporting that every step of the way.”

“The future of our rivers, lakes and seas could not be more important, not just for us but for future generations, but after 14 years of Conservative failure to act—for a time, propped up by the Liberal Democrats—their future was looking lost at sea. I am proud that taking action to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas a…”

“Those who bravely serve in our forces should never lose their say in our country’s future, so I welcome the Government’s swift action to introduce the ability to use the veterans ID card as voter ID. May I ask the Minister what plans there are to ensure that veterans around the country are aware of this important chang…”

“Together with the Startup Coalition, I recently held a roundtable with brilliant local start-ups working out of Future Space at the University of the West of England. Issues that they have been facing for a long time include accessing the same opportunities and support for growth as larger businesses. Would the Ministe…”

“The issue of rural crime has come up a bit less in today’s debate, so I want to make sure that we have some moments to reflect on it, as the Minister has started to. Does he agree that the Government’s approach of having a cross-governmental rural crime strategy—it is the first of its kind—will tackle these issues in m…”

“I declare an interest as a member of the all-party group on political and media literacy. We live in increasingly uncertain times, and we are seeing a real change as the threats we are facing move from the traditional to the digital, with things such as misinformation and disinformation on the rise. Given that, will th…”

“Local people across my constituency have said how much they value and welcome the vast investment that we have seen in our public services, from our NHS to our schools and beyond. Will the Minister please set out what steps are also being taken to reform our public services, working with other Cabinet colleagues?”

“As the Minister will know from her many welcome visits, my constituency is home to many defence companies that are playing a vital role in this conflict. Does she agree that it is crucial that we continue to support companies here in the UK to get military kit into the hands of those in Ukraine who need it most?”

“I thank the hon. Member for Broadland and Fakenham (Jerome Mayhew), the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on financial education for young people, for securing this debate. I should first declare not only my interests—I am vice-chair of the APPG, and have been a trustee of Girlguiding Bristol and South Glouces…”

“I welcome the debate of my constituency neighbour, the hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate (Claire Young), although I would have appreciated some notification of the debate, given that the bridge also sits within my constituency and impacts my residents every single day in exactly the same way as it does hers. I complet…”

“When I am out regularly knocking on doors and listening to people across the constituency, one of the issues residents raise with me most frequently is the challenge in even being able to book a GP’s appointment. Could the Secretary of State please set out what his plans are for ending that 8 am phone scramble, includi…”

“The NHS has long been a top issue raised by local residents when I have been out knocking on doors across the whole of Filton and Bradley Stoke, so I welcome not only the investment, but the reform alongside that, and these clear milestones for change, which are what the country voted to see. Will the Minister give a c…”

“There is just a small topic there, Foreign Secretary. You have touched on this in some of your previous answers, but I was keen to dive into it in further detail. In your Kew Gardens speech, you said that action on the climate and nature crisis will be central to all that the Foreign Office does. What changes have you …”

“Yes, absolutely. You made it very clear earlier, Foreign Secretary, that growth is central to your and the Department’s work. I was wondering whether you have red lines when it comes to climate and nature, for example in a trade deal. Unfortunately, not every country around the world shares our ambition for tackling th…”

“This is the last question, we promise, Foreign Secretary, and we will let you go, but this feels important. I completely agree our relationship is incredibly special and important with the US. I have personally lived and worked in the US myself. Part of what makes our relationship so special is that it has been founded…”

“I have one final question on this area. You touched on COP there, and you were there very recently. You talked about the outcome being quite positive. COP has been criticised, however, for perhaps not being able to tackle the challenge at the pace that is needed. I wondered about your reflections on that and whether yo…”

“On that question in terms of the soft power aspect, do you believe that that downgrade in spending has had an impact on Britain’s role in the world and how we are seen in terms of our soft power and influence?”

“Linked to the conversation we had last week with Sir Philip, at the start, Foreign Secretary, you touched on the fact that you inherited this failed merger when you first walked into the Department. I wondered whether you could please elaborate on that for us and set out some of those challenges that you have inherited…”

“Looking ahead to you returning to be in front of this Committee in, say, a year’s time, what would success look like across this period? How do we judge that there has been success and good progress on those measures that you are starting to set out there and bring about?”

“To follow up specifically, you touched there on the fact that you are looking to do more. Obviously, you are doing more with less because of the last Conservative Government’s cut in terms of ODA from 0.7% to 0.5%. I wonder what your view is, Foreign Secretary, on whether that has harmed UK soft power.”