Speeches by Robertson.

“The best thing the Government can do to support young people is to ensure they have jobs, but in the three months to October last year, unemployment for 18 to 24-year-olds rose by 85,000. What does the Secretary of State have to say to the Chancellor, who is over-taxing jobs, including for young people?”

“A study by the Health Foundation has found that the cost to the NHS of staff sickness and staff turnover is of the order of £12 billion a year. Will the Government’s new workforce plan cover the issue of excessive cost through the entirely avoidable turnover of staff?”

“I think the hon. Member himself agrees that this is not about stopping people gambling. The point I am making is that high street premises represent some of the safer environments for gambling, and some of the riskier forms of gambling are far less visible than the high street shops we have heard about today. I am cert…”

“I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for allocating time for this important debate, and to the hon. Member for Brent East (Dawn Butler) for bringing it forward. Before I turn to some of the specifics of the case she made, I remind the House that the vast majority of people who gamble do so responsibly, saf…”

“The Government talk about affordable transport for passengers in the UK, but on the Isle of Wight we are at the mercy of privatised, unregulated ferry companies that charge extortionate prices for unreliable services. If those companies refuse to lower prices and improve services, will the Minister intervene, given tha…”

“Given that health and social care is awash with plans and strategies—indeed, a workforce strategy from the last Government was put aside for the new Government strategy that has not come in yet—and the modern service framework may not be available until the autumn, and we know how deadlines slip, can the Minister give …”

“It is a pleasure to speak in this debate on supporting rural communities, although to the casual observer who may have been here at the beginning to hear the Minister’s opening speech, it may have appeared that this was a general rambling debate about covid. Later on, if they were here when we heard from the hon. Membe…”

“From what we are hearing, it sounds like however it is presented, there will be considerable detail within the workforce plan about how we meet the needs of end-of-life care and palliative care. Can the Committee take that as a given?”

“I was not asking about the way in which it will be presented, or how it will be formatted; I am looking for assurances that the specific needs within end-of-life care and palliative care will be dealt with in the workforce plan. Clearly, there is a need in respect of general staffing, as there is across the whole of he…”

“Turning to a report that we know is coming out this year—or you say it is—the workforce plan will, we hope, be a plan for across the spectrum of health and social care. Can you give the Committee an assurance that a specific part of that will deal with the palliative and end-of-life workforce?”

“Good morning, Minister. The Government published its 10-year health plan over the summer. It did not contain a workforce plan, so you are writing one. It did not contain a palliative care end-of-life plan, so you are writing one. It did not contain a social care plan; are you writing one of those?”

“I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend, and thank her for raising that point. The Government are also destroying many rural areas with a clamour for house building in the wrong places. We can all agree that we need more houses for future generations; the argument is about where we build them, and I am surprised to …”

“I am happy to join the hon. Member in congratulating the local authority in Bradford on its bid. She illustrates very well the point that I am trying to make: there is a financial risk in undertaking the process and, indeed, the risk of not being successful. For smaller towns with less financial might, that could becom…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Furniss. I congratulate the hon. Member for Halesowen (Alex Ballinger) on securing this important debate on the UK town of culture competition. Let me begin by welcoming the announcement of the UK town of culture programme. The UK city of culture initiative, first l…”

“It is not a permanent ban, because you are allowing a test so that children who have not received drugs so far will do so on your watch.”

“Secretary of State, as you will know, the Alzheimer’s Society and the Daily Mail are refocusing attention on dementia. Part of the fight against dementia is ensuring early diagnosis and ensuring that there is not inequality across the country in terms of diagnosis. It is a really important campaign. What can you do, an…”

“I get that it is tough. Can I ask you a question about a subject that is about public policy—the potential for a lower age limit, under which no child can consent? In law, no child under the age of 13 can consent to sexual activity because they do not have capacity and do not understand what it means. How can children …”

“I understand, and of course it is right, that you upheld the ban on it originally, so if this trial is to go ahead, it is on your watch and with your consent. There is an alternative. The primary outcome measure of these tests, we learn, is a survey of children, some of whom have had body-altering drugs. There are alre…”

“Turning to something different, you are currently planning puberty blocker trials—testing on hundreds of children who will receive drugs to alter their sexual development. You have said that you are uncomfortable with that, but you are in a uniquely privileged position to do something about it. Will you ensure that no …”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. It is also a pleasure to take part in this important debate on Government support for membership-based charity organisation. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) for securing such an important debate and for her opening remar…”