Speeches by Shannon.

“One of the advantages of this great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is that every region benefits from the trading opportunities that arise. Will the Secretary of State reaffirm that there are advantages for Northern Ireland from its economic contact with Wales, as there are for Scotland and Englan…”

“I thank the Chief Secretary to the Treasury for his truly encouraging statement. I would be churlish to say anything other than well done. However, as he will know, we have an issue in Northern Ireland. Economic output increased in Northern Ireland by 8.1% above 2019 pre-pandemic levels, but we are not yet close to our…”

“I commend the hon. Gentleman on bringing forward this debate. Cadet forces have featured very much in my life and in Northern Ireland. I declare an interest as a former solider for the Ulster Defence Regiment and for the Royal Artillery for some 11 and a half years. Across Northern Ireland, some 200 cadets and 50 adult…”

“I commend the hon. Lady for bringing up an important point about apprenticeships. In my constituency, where there is a tradition of service in the construction sector, there is a shortage because there is better pay for those outside the sector. Does she agree that if there is to be a change, with maybe a three-year ap…”

“The hon. Lady is a thoughtful MP and is always trying to find the ways forward, and I welcome that—it is all about solutions. While I believe in neighbourly friendly relations and affording young people opportunity, does she not agree with the concerns that I and MPs in Northern Ireland have about the EU continuing to …”

“rose—”

“My hon. Friend is right. We are all trying to ensure that the programmes and services are delivered and that, more importantly, the rights of workers are protected. He has hit that nail on the head. The outsourcing of services can never be a no-brainer; it must always be a decision that is thought through from beginnin…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Jeremy. I thank the hon. Member for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East (Andy McDonald) for securing this debate. I do not say this lightly: he is truly a doughty champion—so I say well done. The issue of outsourcing is a sticky one that I well remember from my days as…”

“The WASPI women are watching, so all MPs would be wise to vote.”

“I thank the Minister for his answers and, in particular, welcome his commitment to supporting the police, which he has mentioned a few times. I have great concerns that the revival of non-crime hate incidents will mean more work for our overstretched police forces, and that it will mean getting involved in a war on off…”

“I commend the hon. Member for Knowsley (Anneliese Midgley) for bringing forward this debate. I spoke to her beforehand, and I understand what she is trying to do. She has clearly outlined the case for the unions in her contribution tonight. When I started work for Henry Denny’s in Belfast in my early 20s, they asked me…”

“It certainly does. For the Minister, we will lay on the line what we are after. The £1 million threshold is wrong, because it does not adequately reflect the rateable value of a farm. If the threshold was £5 million, that would save the small farms. The hon. Member for Caerfyrddin, who introduced the debate, talked abo…”

“I thank the hon. Lady for that intervention. With those wise words, she has hit the nail on the head. When the Minister looks round this Chamber, he will see that everybody—those who have spoken and those who are here—is united against the change to APR. We are not going to put the Minister under pressure unduly, but i…”

“Thank you for that clarification, Mr Stringer. I did not intend to put you under any pressure. I wish you well and thank you for your chairship. I thank the hon. Member for Caerfyrddin (Ann Davies) —I hope my pronunciation is right, with my Ulster Scots accent—for securing this important debate on a matter of grave con…”

“I commend the hon. Lady for securing this debate. I suppose the issue is twofold. First, the farmers who sign up to solar farms are committed to a long-term lease, and that will impact the family inheritance tax potential. The second point comes in relation to using land better for food production, as it should be used…”

“On a point of clarification, Mr Stringer, I understand that the Front-Bench speeches will begin at 3.28 pm. Does that mean that the hon. Member for Tiverton and Minehead (Rachel Gilmour) and myself can divide the 17 minutes until then between ourselves?”

“Chair, I am very much anti-drugs, but I understand the issues. There is a prevalence of drug consumption across the whole of the United Kingdom, and it is prevalent in my constituency of Strangford as well, even if it is the underbelly of what is perhaps happening. The reason why I hope to have the debate is that we wa…”

“I think it is Andrew Gwynne.”

“First of all, Chair, it is a real pleasure to be here and thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to request another debate. I chair the all-party parliamentary group on vascular and venous disease, so CVD prevention across the United Kingdom is an issue that I am very keen on. It is a good opportunity to loo…”

“I thank the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Julia Buckley) for setting the scene, and I convey my sympathies to the families in the Gallery on the loss of their young ones. I am very sorry to hear of the horrific accident that occurred in north Wales where four young boys died. I am concerned to put forward the issues rela…”