Speeches by Robertson.

“It is all very well for the Secretary of State to talk about her version of support for youth services, but that is of little consolation to young people who cannot get a job because youth unemployment is up under this Government. Will she relay that message to the Chancellor?”

“The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has compared GPs’ salaries to that of the Prime Minister. I can understand why he is taking a keen interest in how much a Prime Minister is paid, but can the Government assure the House that the GP contract will include an increase in GP funding over and above inflation…”

“Hard-working men and women in the coastguard, such as Bembridge resident Martin Groom, do vital work securing our borders, including, in some cases, intercepting small boats. The coastguard treats them as volunteers, but the Court of Appeal has disagreed and said that they are workers. Will the Government do the right …”

“The Government are giving a 50% reduction to the emissions trading scheme levy on ferries crossing between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in an apparent effort not to negatively impact the economy there. Scottish islands are getting a 100% reduction, yet the Isle of Wight is getting no reduction. What economic asse…”

“2. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Government policies on the economy in Northern Ireland.”

“I will direct this question to the ABPI, which is probably most relevant. Can I ask what the process for producing the annual flu vaccinations looks like from the industry’s perspective? What are the key challenges that are faced, and what is the scope for accelerating the process?”

“Looking at potential for accelerating that process, or challenges within that process, do you have any views around that? There have been things spoken about by others in terms of under-investment in medicines generally, the UK’s branded medicines levy, foreign direct investment falling, capacity issues within the MHRA…”

“I have taken the premise that it would be beneficial to have the flu vaccination available a bit earlier, and that having it early is a good thing. Would anyone on the panel like to comment on that basic assumption, that it would help uptake if the flu vaccine were available earlier?”

“Thinking more widely about taking new vaccines from early research to NHS deployment—not only flu vaccines—are there any system changes? You spoke about specific issues that can arise with, say, the flu vaccination, and you referred to the previous season, but are there any system changes that would most effectively sp…”

“You started by referring to the Government committing more money, although you do not necessarily know where the source is; I do not think they have announced it yet. That indicates to me that there is an acknowledgement that, at least in the short term, more money is needed to meet the arrangements of the deal, rather…”

“I will finish by probing on the UK-US pharmaceutical deal. It seems to me that the health economics are fairly straightforward, but if the plan is to spend more money on high-cost innovative medicine, it will surely have a negative impact, with less money to spend on more routine, bread-and-butter, albeit life-saving, …”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I have a short point to make. The Minister seems to be saying that it is important to restrict an appeals process to the judicial review principles, which is a more restrictive set of criteria by which a body or company can appeal. Otherwise, that might lead…”

“I note the Minister’s assertion that there is no intention to squeeze out other operators, but given the way in which the Bill and the clause are drafted, that surely is an inevitability regardless of whether he intends for that to happen. It is the outcome that matters. If it will not enable open access and competitio…”

“Channel your inner Jerome!”

“This question is possibly better directed at the Minister, but does my hon. Friend think that the clause might be so restrictive because, in truth, the Government do not really want open access, despite what they say?”

“Perhaps I can rephrase the question asked by the hon. Member for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket (Peter Prinsley). How was the Prime Minister to know that the famous serial liar Peter Mandelson would lie to him?”

“My hon. Friend is making a powerful, wide-ranging speech, and I am sure that more details will come out. Does it not come down to the fact that the Prime Minister appointed Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US despite knowing that he had had a long-standing friendship with a prolific convicted paedophile, to the ext…”

“Is it not shocking that the Prime Minister not only appointed Peter Mandelson knowing his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, but today has sought to deflect, cover up and table an amendment so as not to have to answer questions that he must now answer?”

“I do not wish to interrupt the shadow Minister mid-flow, but I hope the Government will take on board his amendments and new clause. If they do not, perhaps they might like to amend the name of the passengers’ council to the “disabled passengers’ council”, because, in effect, that is the work it will be doing, so why n…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy. I associate myself with all the wide-ranging arguments made by my hon. Friend the shadow Minister about this piece of legislation, but I wish to focus on something more specific: the impact on ferries and the cost of travelling to UK islands. The Government kn…”