Speeches by Baxter.

“This Labour Government’s plans to make work pay will give thousands of workers in my constituency a much-needed pay rise after 14 years of failure by the Conservative party. Does my right hon. Friend agree that plans to support low-paid workers in insecure jobs will be not only crucial but absolutely central to our pla…”

“It is clearly more important than ever that the UK works closely with our European friends and allies as we face the common threat of Russian aggression. Can my hon. Friend outline how the Government intend to strengthen co-operation with the EU on the security challenges that we all face?”

“I warmly welcome the statement by my right hon. Friend, because giving people the opportunity to get on in life and have dignity in good work is at the heart of what drove me to this place. Does the Secretary of State agree that helping people into work in Paisley and Renfrewshire South is about getting the economy gro…”

“My constituents in Paisley and Renfrewshire South need a health service that moves from sickness to prevention, so can my hon. Friend confirm that this UK-wide Bill will impact my constituents? Has he had discussions with the Scottish Government about ensuring its implementation north of the border?”

“I want to associate myself with the condolences for Lord Prescott. He was a true giant of our movement. Last week, more than 450 people from across Renfrewshire gathered for the 20th annual ROCCO awards, run by the Renfrewshire chamber of commerce to celebrate businesses. Will my right hon. Friend assure businesses in …”

“I welcome the Secretary of State’s focus on the future of our forces, which has been backed by the chiefs, and I particularly welcome the retention payments for our aircraft engineers and Army personnel. As others have alluded to, technology is changing the nature of the threats that we face. Can the Secretary of State…”

“This morning, we learned that the Scottish Government have wasted £28 million of taxpayers’ money on the flawed, ill-conceived National Care Service (Scotland) Bill, which did not command the support of almost any of the stakeholders needed to pass it. Does my hon. Friend agree that the additional funding for the NHS t…”

“The Equality and Human Rights Commission has stated that it has suspicions that successive Secretaries of State may have broken equality law by failing to provide reasonable adjustments for people with health conditions, something that most of us who are new to the Committee were pretty shocked to learn. Can you talk t…”

“Throughout the predecessor Committee’s inquiry on benefit levels in the UK, it heard evidence that shortfalls between housing support and actual rental costs had eroded household incomes. Would it be possible to set out measurable objectives for benefit levels linked to living costs?”

“It is very positive that the Government asked the Low Pay Commission to take account of the cost of living when making recommendations on the national living wage. Do you think we could have a similar approach to deciding how benefit levels are set?”

“I am conscious that those agency agreements exist, in terms of the DWP continuing to administer some of the benefits that have been devolved to the Scottish Government. Is there a cost to the Department of staff working on the administration of those benefits that have already been devolved, when they could be undertak…”

“Can you talk to us about the discussions that you have had with the devolved Administrations about the benefits delivered by DWP in Scotland and Wales?”

“Is the reason the hon. Gentleman’s amendment refers only to the first three UK establishment parties so that it does not affect his own party, now that it has fallen to being the fourth largest party in this place?”

“Today, on Armistice Day, we honour those who have served, those who have fought and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy. Does the Secretary of State agree that today and every day we must remember everything that our armed forces are doing to keep us safe? Will he come to my cons…”

“I congratulate hon. Friends who have made maiden speeches today. I am proud to stand in support of this Labour Budget—the first Labour Budget in 14 years, and the first ever Budget presented by a female Chancellor. The Budget delivers the largest settlement for the Scottish Government in the history of devolution. It m…”

“Does the hon. Gentleman accept that those pay rises will go to hard-working people who are themselves taxpayers?”

“Does the Minister agree that sustainable growth cannot come from short-termism and that the falls in public sector investment planned under the last Government would have exacerbated, rather than ameliorated, the economic chaos they got us into?”

“Will the Minister join me in welcoming Glasgow’s role as host of the Commonwealth games 2026? Will she confirm that discussions will take place with the Scottish Government to ensure that the benefits of the games are felt not just in Glasgow, but across the whole of Scotland, including in constituencies such as mine?”

“I warmly welcome today’s announcement of an additional £2.2 billion in financial support for Ukraine, generated by frozen Russian assets. Will my right hon. Friend say a little more about the concerning development of North Korean soldiers supporting Russia’s war of aggression on European soil, and how that underlines …”

“Does the hon. Gentleman agree that if he is supportive of workers’ rights, those Unison members who are currently on strike in Perth and Kinross have a valid claim to a decent pay rise from his Government?”