Speeches by Glen.

“I can say this now: it is quite frustrating when, as a Minister, you are given those dates and you know that the significant likelihood and probability is that it will be faster than that, but you are not permitted to say so, because you cannot give false hope. I know the Paymaster General is seeking to move those to t…”

“It is a pleasure to speak in this debate. I want to make a few points and to provide some context around how we got to this point, and also to ask the Paymaster General a few questions about the regulations. As far as I can see, the regulations are identical to what I would have done had I continued in the role of Paym…”

“Mr Neidle, you explained how we had a world-class company registration system, but that, essentially, the opening up through the internet has created an unmanageable system—that is the essence of what has happened. As you look to the future, notwithstanding the regulations we put in with the new legislation, and the re…”

“Could I ask about the resourcing of the regime to fight economic crime? You can get the right legislation in place, and we have just discussed the journey to its full implementation, but this is quite a complicated area, with lots of different agencies and actors involved in supervising and executing. Is there an effec…”

“Can I follow up on that? What more resources do you think that the SFO needs? I was Chief Secretary for a while, and everyone always wants more resources. What sort of quantum are you talking about for that entity? Perhaps we can come in afterwards and talk about other entities that need more, and how much.”

“All I am trying to ask is, do you not think it would be necessary to assess the behavioural effect of increasing the fees to a significant level?”

“I am interested in the dynamic of the fees, the recovery and the costs. If you increase the fees to the levels suggested, what are the implications for the behaviours of potential registrants? Is it possible that people will not engage? Are there any risks?”

“I am not casting aspersions. None the less, you recognise the challenge you face.”

“Because the agencies do not have enough money to execute it?”

“All of you seem to think that there are the foundations for a better system, but that you need more proactive interrogation of the data and what to do with it if you are going to send signals that are going to change behaviours in the light of that ID issue and muppets?”

“What I am getting at is that you have a tough job to catch up with people who are doing dodgy things in more sophisticated ways. You need cutting-edge staff, not people who are looking over their shoulders to find a better job back in their home Department or sponsoring Department. It seems to me you can have the resou…”

“You have explained, quite reasonably, that when you increase the number of staff, you have to think about business as usual versus what the changed organisation looks like. Through the Chair’s questions, we also discussed the gaps you have—15% to 20% of posts unfilled. Do you think you have the right freedom to designa…”

“Which we do not have at the moment.”

“On 20 November 2023, when I was the Paymaster General, I made some comments about the winter fuel payment. The right hon. Member for Bristol North West (Darren Jones), who is now Chief Secretary to the Treasury, wrote to the Chancellor at the time and asked whether we could confirm that we would not be removing the win…”

“The hon. Gentleman is very generous in giving way. I have listened carefully to the speeches this afternoon with respect to our tenure in office and regrets that we will have time to reflect on. I accept that. However, having been a Minister and a Parliamentary Private Secretary for 12 years, I want to tell the hon. Ge…”

“A few weeks ago, I visited Salisbury jobcentre and I met Kirstie Reakes and George Thornley, who are helping me organise a jobs fair on Thursday 8 May. They could not have been more helpful. Their encyclopaedic knowledge of the local jobs market and businesses was impressive. Will the Minister congratulate them and tha…”

“I am grateful to the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) for securing this afternoon’s debate. I want to make three points. Salisbury, my rural constituency, has farming at its heart. The universal feedback that we have had from farmers is that since this Government have come in they have been ver…”

“I welcome the ambition of the Secretary of State. One area that I ask him to focus on is the future of the UK Health Security Agency. Over the last 15 years, it has evolved from the Health Protection Agency to Public Health England and now to the UKHSA. I found it impossible, both as a Treasury Minister and as a consti…”

“Many valued public servants work at Porton Down in my constituency. It was home to the Health Protection Agency when I first became an MP, then to Public Health England and then the UK Health Security Agency. In 2015, the decision was made to establish a new facility in Essex. I have been applying and will continue to …”

“I am anxious that you are locked into it.”