Speeches by Robertson.

“Drinks producers warn that, because of the UK Government’s decision to allow Wales to include glass in a deposit return scheme, there is the threat of up to 90% of products being removed from shelves. Why have the Government taken the decision to allow a United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 exclusion that threatens …”

“1. What diplomatic steps she is taking to support Ukraine to determine its future.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Roger. I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) on securing this important debate. Few others—indeed, perhaps no one else in this place—have done more over the last 20 years to champion the causes of so…”

“I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. As we mark the fourth anniversary of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, we salute the fortitude and bravery of the Ukrainian people. As we see conflicts open up elsewhere in the world, particularly the current situation in the middle east, how do we ensure that Ukraine cont…”

“The hon. Member talks about the legitimacy of the voting system and the votes nationally not being proportionately represented here. Is the example that he is using the current Government, which got 34% of the vote but has 63% of the seats in this House?”

“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 England Beach Soccer association has an agreement with the Football Association, as its delivery partner into FIFA. However, beach soccer is not recognised as a stand-alone sport by Sport England, which means that it cannot benefit from funding, and it does not receive anything from the FA either. It is a growing s…”

“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 …”

“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?”

“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?”

“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…”

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

“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…”

“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 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, …”

“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…”

“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…”

“Channel your inner Jerome!”

“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…”