Speeches by Roome.

“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…”

“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…”

“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…”

“T4. Forces families sometimes find that a child’s education, health and care plan is not automatically recognised when they are reposted to a new area, leaving children without provision. With the children’s services White Paper due next year, will the Minister ensure that military children specifically are included an…”

“Many parents are concerned about how schools address the sensitive issues of consent and sexual violence. What action is the Department taking to ensure that those subjects are being taught in schools by appropriately trained professionals, to safeguard both pupils and teachers?”

“2. What steps she is taking to improve education on sexual consent and relationships.”

“Angela, one thing about the local authority: it is closest to the people, with councillors being the first level of local government, dealing with their communities, and the portfolio holders. I do not know whether you use the executive or the committee model, but whatever model you use, those portfolio holders for eac…”

“How many transient people with those skills do you think will come into Barrow, in addition to the existing population?”

“As a former council leader, I know the excitement that comes from the Government saying that they are going to invest in a town you are presiding over and thinking that you are going to get all this money, and it is going to create great opportunities. How did you determine as a board what your first priorities were go…”

“Would you explain a bit more about how you manage those demands for funding? Have you found that the funding has been there when you want it?”

“I notice that you identified better healthcare provision as one of your high-level aims, at a time when services are being reduced at Furness general hospital. How do you prioritise to get cross-Government liaison working so that you work as one team within central Government, as well as within local government?”

“Taking it back a level, can you describe to the Committee what Team Barrow is and who forms that partnership? Also, what are your eye-level aims and objectives for Team Barrow?”

“In rural areas like my constituency, private renting is very expensive and is unaffordable to many. What is the Minister doing to ensure that more housing is available at social rent rather than market rent, which people can simply not afford?”

“For the record, Sir Stephen, when is your appointment due to finish?”

“Have you any concerns about trilateral governance?”

“Sophie Gaston, in her written evidence to the Committee, was concerned about the Defence Secretary standing in for the Prime Minister, and saying basically that the Prime Minister should be involved all the time, because of the particular leadership that AUKUS needs to bring everyone together. What is your experience o…”

“Right. Given the importance of what AUKUS aims to deliver, one of the messages we picked up, particularly from people in Australia, was that we should have your post extended due to your knowledge and because it is good to have someone with that drive within the United Kingdom. They were impressed by your appointment, …”

“To go back to the main governance structure, the FCDO, DESNZ and MoD are involved. The MoD tells us that it put in place more robust and centralised governance arrangements for AUKUS following your review. Is there now an understanding across Whitehall that AUKUS should be seen as a national endeavour, rather than as a…”

“Are you confident of sufficient drive and determination at the highest levels of Government to deliver both pillars 1 and 2 of AUKUS?”

“What effect do you think governance has in defence industry manufacturing regarding the lack of agreement, particularly on pillar 2 and what those areas should be?”