Speeches by Lamont.

“I think we are going to come back to some of those issues later in the session, but how close did we come to something significantly going wrong in the election? I know there was reference to some particular challenges at one or two counts, which I will come on to a bit more broadly. As a Department, were you confident…”

“Thank you. We are going to come back to that, but in relation to the count at Wandsworth, which I have raised previously, you will know the wrong result was declared and the revised result did not change anything. However, in that constituency it could have done previously, given how close it has been. Are there any ot…”

“You are keeping an eye on that. Is that sufficient? For somebody who has been through the election process, as most of us around this table have, do you think keeping an eye on it is sufficient when such a significant error has been made?”

“Minister, do you think UK election law is too complex?”

“Going back to my earlier question on reforming the law and making it simpler, do you look at other international comparisons to see how other countries do it, to see if there is any better practice that we could adopt here?”

“Just to be clear are you saying that that longer piece of work has started but will take longer to do, or that it has not yet started?”

“I have a small point to clarify. The 12,000 civil servants who you said volunteered—are they redeployed from their existing civil service position, or are they paid in the same way as other people who work in polling stations?”

“Good morning. The Electoral Commission’s assessment of the election last July was that it was well run. I wonder if the Government shares the Electoral Commission’s conclusion.”

“It is not quite volunteering in the way that it initially sounded. They are getting paid to do that and they are taking a day’s leave.”

“It is important to clarify.”

“The hon. Gentleman is making an excellent speech, but does he agree as a fellow Scottish MP that our farmers are facing a double whammy? Not only do we have to deal with the vindictive family farm tax being imposed by the Government opposite, but we face the hostile environment that the Scottish National party Governme…”

“The hon. Lady is making an excellent speech. Throughout the debate, I have struggled to understand the point put forward by Labour Members that while they rightly acknowledge that farming is not profitable, they support a policy that will take even more cash away from farming businesses. Does she, like me, find those t…”

“Will the hon. Lady give way on that point?”

“Will the hon. Lady give way?”

“The importance of farming cannot be overstated. It is vital not only for farmers, but for all our communities, our economy and our national security. Farming allows us to keep food prices as low as possible in shops and supermarkets. Farming is the foundation of the rural economy. It supports tens of thousands of jobs …”

“As the Leader of the House knows, there is strong opposition among residents in the Scottish Borders to plans by ScottishPower Energy Networks to build massive pylons along a 94-km route through the Scottish Borders. The regulator, Ofgem, plays a vital role in the decision-making process but, shockingly, is refusing to…”

“Last Friday, I spent the day visiting local shopkeepers in Kelso, many of whom employ their staff on the national minimum wage and the national living wage. Their biggest pressure just now is dealing with this Labour Government’s national insurance hike. They are facing a very difficult choice about whether they contin…”

“The hon. Lady is making an excellent speech about the challenges that her constituents in South Devon are facing. Many of those challenges are similar to those in my own constituency in the Scottish Borders. Does she agree that all decision makers, whether in the Government, the Scottish Government, local authorities o…”

“The draft order’s preamble mentions that the Government have consulted Scottish Ministers. Can the Minister say whether the Scottish Government support these proposals? Did they make any contrary suggestions?”

“May we have a debate on access to banking services in small towns and rural communities? For years, big banks have treated loyal customers very badly—they have shut branches and reduced services, especially in more rural and remote areas, such as my constituency in the Scottish Borders—and last weekend I had to contact…”