Speeches by Baxter.

“On 31 December, we marked the 95th anniversary of the Glen cinema disaster—one of the UK’s worst disasters—which took place in my constituency. Seventy-one children, the youngest of whom was only four, lost their life in a crowd crush caused by a smoking canister of nitrate film. Does my right hon. Friend agree that th…”

“Several organisations have argued that removing the substantial risk descriptor from the work capability assessment would put vulnerable claimants at risk. In your professional opinion, is that claim warranted and, if the Government choose to go ahead with this measure, do you know of any ways in which that risk could …”

“That in itself is not available in other languages?”

“If we put in place measures to improve communication about what additional supports are available, I am guessing that this will look very different for some people. Some people might be more comfortable looking to a guide rather than going in the front door. For others, it may be the opposite. How do you think the Depa…”

“From an occupational health perspective, what do you perceive as the main barriers involved in moving people from being out of work on health or disability benefits back into the workplace?”

“Good morning. How easy or not do you think it is for vulnerable claimants and those who support them to access the additional support measures that are available to them by the DWP?”

“That brings me quite neatly on. I was going to ask you about the pamphlet that was published in March 2024 on the additional support for DWP customers. Is that the pamphlet you were referring to?”

“What is the view from others as to how helpful or not that pamphlet has been in trying to give people information about what support might be available to them?”

“Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that is not buying off union paymasters but delivering a pay rise for hard-working Scots?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Vaz. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Gregor Poynton) for securing the debate. This Labour Government have committed £47.7 billion in funding for Scotland for 2025-26—the largest Budget settlement in the history of devolution. That includes £3.4 bil…”

“I heard the question from the right hon. Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) on co-ordinated action. While no G7 nation has yet moved fully to seize Russian state assets, Canada and the US have enacted legislation to permit them to do so. Does the hon. Member agree that legislation is an important step forwar…”

“May I wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and all staff across the parliamentary estate a very happy Christmas? In the last week, my constituents in Paisley and Renfrewshire South have received the devastating news that the SNP-controlled integration joint board, running health and social care provision across Renfrewshire…”

“I was going to come on to this winter, because the announcement does only affect 2024-25 onwards. What do you think both Governments could do to support people with their fuel cost this winter?”

“I was going to come to what the Government could do. I understand the comments that are being made about timescales and thresholds, but given the criticisms that have been levied at the winter fuel payment in the past, do you accept the principle that there must be a better way of targeting support to those who need it…”

“We have talked a lot about the change to the winter fuel payment. I am conscious that for a number of years before that change was announced, the payment was subject to a lot of criticism for being quite a poorly targeted measure. In 2016, there was a report on intergenerational fairness by the predecessor Work and Pen…”

“It is interesting that the Scottish Government ended up making the same decision as the UK Government. They also had advice suggesting that it was poorly targeted in Scotland. It is interesting that both Governments came to the same conclusion. Obviously, the Scottish Government announced that they would be putting in …”

“My constituency of Paisley and Renfrewshire South is home to the beautiful RSPB Lochwinnoch nature reserve. In addition to supporting our biodiversity, the reserve serves as a natural carbon sink. Globally, wetlands hold approximately 20% to 30% of the Earth’s soil carbon despite covering only 5% of the land surface. W…”

“25. Whether he is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to support nature-based solutions to climate change.”

“Our posties go above and beyond 12 months of the year, but especially at this time of the year. I welcome my hon. Friend’s statement, but I particularly welcome the support that it has garnered from the workforce. Can he say a little more about his conversations with the trade unions during the negotiations about the i…”

“I wholeheartedly welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement, and in particular the additional funds found to support charities who will help LGBT veterans with their applications. One of my constituents wrote to me with a most harrowing story about how his career in the armed forces ended with an investigation by th…”