Speeches by McAllister.

“Cost-neutral?”

“For the people who live in Yoker in my West Dunbartonshire constituency, what benefit do they get from the Games?”

“Finally on that point, we mentioned council budgets earlier. Their challenges are well documented. Do you expect the Games to generate money that can be reinstated in council services in future years, or will the Games be a cost to the council taxpayer and my constituents?”

“The Games are expected to deliver £100 million of inward investment into Glasgow, and, as a result of that, £150 million of economic value added for the region. How will you ensure that that translates into tangible benefits for the people who live here in Glasgow, beyond just the joy of hosting the Games?”

“There is a part of Glasgow in my West Dunbartonshire constituency. What do I say to my constituents who live there? What tangible benefit will be they get from the Games?”

“BBC Scotland TV news reported this morning on this Committee hearing, so there is real interest in the Commonwealth Games. You are confident that you are going to secure that, are you?”

“Has the scaled-back nature of the event had an impact on your ability to secure a live UK broadcaster?”

“Can you provide an update on progress in securing a UK television broadcaster—a live broadcaster rather than a broadcaster of recorded highlights—for the Games? As I understand it, for Glasgow 2014 that was all arranged three years in advance, and for Birmingham 2022 it was done two years in advance. I appreciate that …”

“What are the plans for the Commonwealth Games baton? I read somewhere that there are going to be 74 individual batons, one for every nation. What are the plans for Scotland’s Commonwealth Games baton? Will it be coming to West Dunbartonshire?”

“We have new technical excellence colleges, new defence academies and new clean energy colleges, but not in Scotland, because further education and skills are devolved to the Scottish Government. The Scottish Auditor General’s report, published this month, showed that funding for Scottish colleges has been cut by 20%. D…”

“Health is obviously devolved to Scotland, but this is a UK-wide issue. My constituents Ewan, Robert and Louise are among a group living with PoTS and they too advise of unacceptably lengthy waiting times for a diagnosis—causing many years of untold suffering. Does my hon. Friend agree that greater support for this synd…”

“The Prime Minister’s statement on the middle east included a celebration of our newly formed relationship and trade deal with India. Did his discussions with Prime Minister Modi last week also include raising the case of my West Dunbartonshire constituent Jagtar Singh Johal? If so, did the Prime Minister insist upon Ja…”

“Scotland has the worst drugs death figures of any nation in Europe, and they have increased again, with 607 suspected drug deaths in the first half of this year. Six years ago, the SNP Scottish Government declared a “drug death emergency”—just another example of soundbite announcements with no actual delivery. They hav…”

“11. What steps his Department is taking to reduce the Crown court backlog.”

“One of the most effective steps taken by this Government to help reduce the Crown court backlog is the record increases to criminal legal aid. Fewer criminal barristers and solicitors will not help to tackle case waiting times. Scotland is experiencing unacceptable delays in solemn cases coming to trial, made worse by …”

“Good morning. As I understand it, operations at Dalzell are currently—you used the phrase—mothballed, with workers either furloughed or assigned to maintenance duty. Do I have that correct? I take it that no steel is being processed at present. Is that right?”

“I know that this is perhaps difficult for you to answer. How long do you think you can keep that going for before you have to look for other orders coming in? That is maybe unfair.”

“Yes, exactly. Is that from BAE? I know you were saying that you have had orders from it since 2017 in your earlier evidence.”

“Do you think that the Government saving Scunthorpe demonstrates the strategic importance for not just Scunthorpe but the whole of the UK?”

“But you have had no orders in the past year.”