Speeches by Roome.

“Has it helped between the three different companies you represent? Has it brought you closer together in your working relationship?”

“I could come back on some questions, but I know my colleagues have their own questions about what you have said. Thank you. Steve, do you have anything to add?”

“On that point in particular, what have been the difficulties with the alignment process?”

“Back in March 2024, when the joint statement came out, it referenced the AUKUS trilateral collaboration between Australia, the US and the United Kingdom. I would like to ask this to each of you: what has been your experience of working with US and Australian industry partners on AUKUS? What advantages have there been, …”

“Could I ask whoever wants to answer the question: what would you recommend? How can we overcome the problem? With your years of experience in industry, what needs to be done to alleviate that challenge for the benefit of the programme?”

“I would like to make a point about that, because the relationship between MoD and DSIT, and how they work together in future, has come up at other Committees. Particularly for your industry and your members, it is an issue. Andrew, do you have anything to add?”

“I have visited many schools in North Devon, and many are facing the dilemma of whether to fund essential maintenance or to lay off teaching assistants. What is the Minister doing to ensure that adequate funding reaches rural schools so that they do not have to cut teaching staff in order to balance the books?”

“There is no standard requirement for most companies to have a whistleblowing policy. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Bill would be a good opportunity to put in place real protections for whistleblowers who try to highlight crime, danger and malpractice in the workplace?”

“I know that 48 hours seems a long time to some Ministers, but does he agree that having a shift cancelled at short notice would be bad news for many workers across the country? This Bill should be amended to specify an acceptable notice period.”

“I would like to start with an article on the Center for Strategic and International Studies website, which states: “If Pillar One was historic, then Pillar Two promises to be revolutionary.” In some of our meetings with the defence industry, they have said that they are looking at what this actually means—what does pil…”

“Given the time, I will go straight into my next area, which is a quote from a member of techUK, who argued, “Despite broad agreement on what needs attention, the how, when and who remain vague”. We have heard that pillar 2 is rapidly losing a bit of credibility due to a lack of tangible progress. Do you agree? What sho…”

“I think we will come to that a bit more. You said earlier that AUKUS is about giving us a long-term strategic advantage. Do you think it will give us an advantage over China and its capabilities?”

“I thank the hon. Member for securing this debate. Does he agree with me about the extra pressures on people living in remote rural coastal communities, such as Ilfracombe in Devon? The life expectancy there is 10 years lower than in other parts of Devon. The integrated care board needs to be funded for the costs of sup…”

“Following the recent news that Norway will purchase Type 26 frigates, the speculation in the media before the weekend was that the Danish navy might also be about to place a significant order for the Type 31. Will the Secretary of State soon be able to give the UK additional good news?”

“Will the Minister also join the Worshipful Company of Engineers in congratulating Sir Rich Knighton on being the first engineer to become the chief of the Royal Air Force? Being ex-RAF, it is nice to have an engineer who has never been a pilot as the chief of the Royal Air Force.”

“I agree with my hon. Friend, and I am sure that the Minister will reply. Unfortunately, Sentry’s intended replacement, the Wedgetail programme, has already been through some major turbulence during its early years, from questions over the fairness of the MOD’s procurement decision in 2018 to a two-year production delay…”

“It is an honour to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. I thank the hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway (John Cooper) for bringing this important debate to Westminster Hall. I concur with the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois): the Liberal Democrats also welcome Air Marshal Harv Smyt…”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that a reduction in beer duty would help hard-working publicans like Simon and Alison from a micropub in Barnstaple called Beer Matters, who have just won the CAMRA award for North Devon, to continue in business? Not only is it a fantastic micropub, but it serves as a good social hub in the co…”

“I, too, welcome the statement given by the Secretary of State today. As a member of the Defence Committee, I look forward to giving this matter the scrutiny it deserves. I will not go into the detail of the report, but I think it is important to clarify, if the Secretary of State is able to do so, whether the data brea…”

“Q11. In the past few weeks, I have spoken to five people from my rural North Devon constituency who have been forced to remove their own teeth with pliers or with amateur surgical kits bought online because they are unable to find an NHS dentist. What would the Prime Minister say to those people, and when will the Gove…”