Speeches by Roome.

“Ms van Rij, the EU Commissioner for Defence has promised a defence White Paper, hopefully to be published in March this year. What is your understanding of what might come out of that White Paper?”

“Regarding your earlier comments around the implementation and recommendations that might come out of that White Paper, what do you see as some of the tensions regarding the implementation? We have the strategic defence review here, but this is a lot of member states with many different interests. I noted from one of th…”

“20. What plans she has for the future of apprenticeships.”

“Back in the autumn, the new Government announced plans to reduce the financial support available for level 7 apprenticeships. Does the Secretary of State understand that curtailing higher-level apprenticeships will make it harder to access graduate-level skills and qualifications in rural areas such as North Devon, whe…”

“Sir Alex, I have been listening patiently to your answers. You obviously had a very good career, and thank you for your service to the country. With all your experience, from a personal perspective, what do you want to see from the next strategic defence review?”

“Dr Drent, I understand that you have had extensive dealings with the UK armed forces in the past, and I would like you to comment from a personal perspective on aspects of the UK MoD’s approach to undertaking and combating hybrid threats. What is your experience of the United Kingdom armed forces’ approach to operating…”

“Would you agree that the quality of the UK intelligence services is looked on favourably by our NATO allies?”

“One of the big areas facing defence at the moment is advancements in cyber, particularly in recruiting to the intelligence services professions. Do you have any thoughts on that?”

“Would you agree that the quality of the UK intelligence services is looked on favourably by our NATO allies?”

“Dr Drent, I understand that you have had extensive dealings with the UK armed forces in the past, and I would like you to comment from a personal perspective on aspects of the UK MoD’s approach to undertaking and combating hybrid threats. What is your experience of the United Kingdom armed forces’ approach to operating…”

“I completely agree with you. We need to be a lot more focused and possibly change the cultural attitude in the MoD. We need to invest in recruiting cyber. Do you agree that we need to think out of the box to work out how we can recruit from civilian society? People do not need to be in uniform.”

“One of the big areas facing defence at the moment is advancements in cyber, particularly in recruiting to the intelligence services professions. Do you have any thoughts on that?”

“Sir Alex, I have been listening patiently to your answers. You obviously had a very good career, and thank you for your service to the country. With all your experience, from a personal perspective, what do you want to see from the next strategic defence review?”

“I completely agree with you. We need to be a lot more focused and possibly change the cultural attitude in the MoD. We need to invest in recruiting cyber. Do you agree that we need to think out of the box to work out how we can recruit from civilian society? People do not need to be in uniform.”

“Does the hon. Gentleman agree that, with our Italian and Japanese partners committing to multi-year funding plans for GCAP to give confidence to industry, the UK should show a similar commitment?”

“My constituents in North Devon were let down by the previous Government, and they will be utterly dismayed to find that the remotest hospital in England has been passed over again for essential repairs—it is now beyond 2035. Does the Department understand that if critical care and operating theatre facilities begin to …”

“Obviously, any reorganisation will impact council finances. My constituency of North Devon has coastal towns with real pockets of remote deprivation, isolation and poverty. Now that the Minister’s Department has cut the rural services delivery grant, what methodology will be used to ensure that local government funding…”

“16. What plans her Department has for local government reorganisation in Devon.”

“That is important. You mentioned earlier that you are only as good as the resources you have. For the Committee’s information, how big is your office at present? How many staff do you have?”

“I am interested in the transition period between your office and your term, and the Armed Forces Commissioner. You have talked about the difficulties faced by your team when there was a gap between your and your predecessor’s terms as ombudsman; what was the impact of that?”