Speeches by Robertson.

“Will the Leader of the House consider setting aside Government time for a debate on regenerating coastal communities, so that we can properly consider issues facing towns like Sandown on the Isle of Wight, including transport connectivity, pressure on tourism, derelict buildings and declining high streets?”

“I would like to explore a large group of people who are particularly at risk of frailty, or indeed are frail, and that is those living with dementia. Could we start by having a reflection on the importance of physical activity in reducing the risk of dementia, and once somebody has dementia, the role of physical activi…”

“That is very interesting.”

“It is really helpful to get it on the record that while the progression of dementia as a disease ultimately heads only one way, at a lesser or greater pace, life and health outcomes can be improved through the right provision. The CQC has found that some care homes are not good at providing person-centred activities, p…”

“My hon. Friend was seeking an intervention—from the Opposition Benches, I think, but I thank him for taking one from me. Is not the tragedy that we are stuck for the rest of this decade with this Government? They are clearly not going to hold a general election while they are bombing in the polls. The country is in the…”

“Why is the hon. Member going on about spending decisions of previous Governments, when his Chancellor said last year that her Budget had wiped the slate clean? She said, “It’s on us now”. If she accepts responsibility for where she is today, why does he not?”

“My right hon. Friend, whose constituency is just across the water from mine, is far more experienced in this place than I am. I admit to a certain naivety in not imagining that Machiavellian intention within the Government to set up such a strawman, but the point remains the same. If they are doing so, they are indiffe…”

“Too many of my constituents know 26 November 2025 already. Usually, Budgets come and go without making a huge impact on the public consciousness of people living their daily lives, but this year is different. It is different because businesses and families are terrified about what the Chancellor is cooking up for them.…”

“I appreciate that this is the end of a debate and the Minister is trying to be funny, but a lot of constituents I speak to do not find this period particularly funny, and would like the Minister to confirm that his Government will stick to their manifesto pledge. Please can the Minister not respond with the word “bingo…”

“I confess that I am struggling to understand the relevance of this. If it is so important to Budget setting, has the hon. Member given his mother’s note to the Chancellor for her to read?”

“rose—”

“When we are just two weeks away from a Budget where the Chancellor is preparing all sorts of unpleasantness for families and businesses, is the hon. Member not just a little concerned that the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Sarah Olney) is quizzing him about a Budget from three years ago? Does he not think the British …”

“The Minister seems to be telling us that we can expect debt cutting measures in the Budget. Will he also confirm from the Dispatch Box that there will not be measures to increase national insurance, taxes on hard working people, or VAT?”

“Just thinking of family carers as well, do you think there is perhaps a lack of understanding of just how important physical activity is, notwithstanding that dementias are diseases of the brain?”

“The reason I have not identified any doctors, teachers or police is the fact that there are none to identify. The savings of £47 billion have been listed by the shadow Chancellor. They include cuts to the civil service in Whitehall—I suspect that the hon. Gentleman’s Government may be dragged kicking and screaming to c…”

“My anecdotal experience, and why I assume it might be more widespread, is that family carers and those supporting people living with dementia immediately think that you have to keep the brain active, and think of ways to keep the brain active, which is obviously very important, but perhaps do not realise the importance…”

“As I understand it, we cannot reverse dementia, but we can perhaps slow the progression, as far as we know.”

“But what you are saying is that, because we can reverse frailty, we can reverse the poor outcomes of someone with dementia by reducing frailty.”

“I do not quite understand how a basket would be different from one person to the other, because you then have to have data on who has actually bought that basket of food.”

“Every product?”