Speeches by Lamont.

“Forgive me, I am not talking about official election communications, although obviously I am concerned about them as well. I am talking about additional communications, for example a letter I might be writing to somebody who I know is going to be supporting me. It is not framed as an election communication; it is just …”

“Obviously, the Government are a major customer of the Royal Mail during the election, but the other major customers you have are all the political parties. In previous elections, we had various phased communications that went out to electors when postal votes landed and at various other points during the election campa…”

“There were other examples, though, that were Royal Mail’s responsibility. In my own constituency and others in Scotland, there were examples of posties who were on holiday for particular weeks, and rather than cover being put on to ensure that postal votes were delivered during that critical week, the postal votes rema…”

“Just for the benefit of the Committee, the failure was clearly with the printer. They were contractually not fulfilling their side of the obligation to—is it the Scottish Government? The election management team in Scotland is a separate board, is it not?”

“Mr Carling has just asked my question about how long you had to get those communications delivered. My follow-up question is: have those timetables changed since previous elections?”

“Center Parcs is planning an exciting new development in my constituency in the Scottish Borders. It will be the first Center Parcs in Scotland, and it will bring £350 million of investment and create 1,200 extra jobs for the area. However, due to under-investment by the SNP Government in Edinburgh, there are concerns a…”

“I start by paying tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley and Ilkley (Robbie Moore) for his persistent campaign to get an inquiry into Keighley and Bradford. Scotland is not immune from grooming gangs. Indeed, a survivor expert fears that grooming gangs are operating in every town and city in Scotland. What d…”

“Like many other Members, I clearly remember the events of 2001, not least because all the cattle and sheep on our family farm—my father’s farm in Berwickshire—were slaughtered. The emotional trauma will stay with farming communities for many years to come. I am reassured that this Government are engaging with the Scott…”

“4. What steps her Department is taking to help maintain roads.”

“This week, Scottish Labour announced that it will abstain to allow the SNP Government’s Budget to pass through the Scottish Parliament. This is now typical of Scottish Labour, sitting on the fence and not standing up to the SNP in Scotland. Does the Leader of the House agree that there should be a statement on the UK G…”

“The A1 is a vital road link for the Scottish Borders and Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom, and Labour’s decision to scrap much-needed improvements will harm the local economy and stop businesses investing in jobs. The local Labour MP, the hon. Member for North Northumberland (David Smith), has said he was “di…”

“The funding for the Borders railways feasibility study is part of a legally binding agreement: the Borderlands growth deal between the United Kingdom Government and the Scottish Government. That money was allocated by my right hon. Friend the Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell), who is si…”

“If I may say so on behalf of all Members, you have done a spectacular job as Chair, Mrs Lewell-Buck. I am grateful to all hon. and right hon. Members for contributing to the debate. We have Members here from across Scotland and also from Ulster, and I am grateful for the important points they made about the connections…”

“I am grateful to the hon. Member for raising that point. I will not comment on the legality of whether Avanti has breached its contract, but I think he is making the point that there is an issue, or at least a perception, that train companies do not think that customers and passengers north of Manchester or north of Bi…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered transport links between Scotland and the rest of the UK. It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mrs Lewell-Buck, for the first time. I congratulate you on your position. I am pleased to have secured this debate to highlight the significance and importance of improving tr…”

“What sanction has been imposed on Wandsworth’s returning officer?”

“Thank you, Chair, and good morning to the witnesses. Your report suggests that the 2024 election was well run. Could you tell me the criteria by which you judge that?”

“Obviously there are lots of participants in an election, whether it is candidates, parties, the Royal Mail or the printers. As a candidate, I certainly feel as though we get lots of oversight from the Electoral Commission. I suspect that political parties feel the same. Are you confident that the other participants—nam…”

“Do you think that could have been avoided if the commission had engaged at an earlier stage with the printers and Royal Mail? For example, in my constituency a Royal Mail postman was on holiday for a week, and the postal ballots were not delivered because there was no replacement. The printers were obviously not gettin…”

“I suspect that may come up in further questions.”