Speeches by Roome.

“The strategic defence review states that we need a 30% increase in cadet forces, from 140,000 to 180,000. However, I am informed that there is a severe shortage of adult instructors. What is the Minister going to do to address that problem?”

“We are talking about the experience of somebody being resettled. I have experience of that, because I have members on the ARAP scheme in my constituency. How do you feel that the Government has handled resettlement into some of the communities across the United Kingdom, in respect of some of the written evidence you ha…”

“David, you have been working in resettlement and with Afghans for a long time. How have you found the UK Government’s approach to resettlement since the data breach?”

“I want to talk about resettlement. For the record, since Operation Pitting we have had the ARAP scheme, the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme and the Afghanistan response route, all brought together into the Afghan resettlement programme in December 2024. Obviously, that has been closed since July. From the Afghan pe…”

“I agree. Disabled access is absolutely necessary at all stations, particularly in rural areas. My hon. Friend is a big advocate for accessibility for disabled people in Yeovil who need it. As the network and operator are brought together, we need joined-up planning for increased capacity, and against bad weather. My pa…”

“As the Government move to create a publicly owned Great British Railways, I want to speak on behalf of several thousand rail passengers in my constituency, and to say what they have suffered in recent weeks. We all want a rail network that delivers a fantastic service, supports the economy and protects the environment.…”

“Our evidence shows that in the early days, the support for people resettling into the United Kingdom was poor, or even non-existent. Would you say that is still the case, or do you think the Government have got better at helping to provide support from the early days, when people have arrived?”

“How do you think the Government could improve the resettlement process? I hear from you, even today, the frustration around the application process and the length of time. What is your understanding of the reasons for those delays?”

“On that point, what is the longest time between people applying and hearing that any decision has been made?”

“I am hearing about failures in the Government process where they have not thought the schemes all the way through. It would be interesting to see what your thoughts are on the practical support to get people into work.”

“Professor, how is your organisation supporting the Afghans in the resettlement process? I ask that question because I have been asked to provide references for Afghans who have come over on the ARAP scheme, who apply for jobs but need references. Who gives them the reference?”

“In the year 2000, half of children in poverty lived in workless families, but now almost three quarters of children in poverty are in working families and millions of universal credit recipients have a job but suffer from low wages. Can I ask the Secretary of State how that has shaped the new strategy to end child pove…”

“The former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, Lord West, who is also a former Labour security Minister, said in the other place that “the Ajax programme, no matter how much one dresses it up, has been a complete and utter disaster.”—[Official Report, House of Lords, 12 December 2022; Vol. 826, c. 452.] Does the Minister…”

“That would be good because we are on about us not doing enough as a nation to bring civil society along with us on our defence. The more we can be open and transparent with our public, the more we can bring them along to explain why investment in defence is very necessary. That would be really good, Minister, if you co…”

“Particularly on the governance side, we, as a Committee, have been told by Sir Stephen that you have received his report on AUKUS and that there should be a public version of that report. We have been promised last month—I think that that was the original day it was going to be—that there would be a public version of t…”

“What comes with that excitement is the great investment and the talk that we are hearing from Government about investment in SMEs. When they go out to get a product, it is harder to get the funding for them than it is for one of the big primes. How conscious are you of the awareness that what you are asking companies t…”

“Thanks for clarifying.”

“On that point, pillar 2 particularly involves other Government Departments that do not sit under the MoD. We have the Department for Education, with all the students in science and particularly STEM subjects, and also DSIT, which holds the purse strings for innovation, cyber and AI. Minister, what are you doing to make…”

“That is the equipment. On the initial reportees—I think it is believed to be about 30 personnel—are they okay? Are there any injuries or anything?”

“There is excitement about pillar 2. That is the message that we picked up from the many companies that have assisted us in this inquiry. There is excitement that their company could be involved in a national defence programme, and not just nationally or bilaterally, but trilaterally. We heard that in Australia. At a pa…”