Speeches by Milne.

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stuart. Like others, I congratulate the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Johanna Baxter) on securing the debate. We say that at the start of every debate, but this is different—it really matters. She has done a fantastic job since our visit to Ukraine…”

“The ill-advised decision to leave the EU in 2016 saw us leave the European Defence Agency at the same time. With defence expenditure rising at record rates across Europe in response to the invasion of Ukraine, the EDA has a vital role to play in our national security. What plans do the Government have to secure a more …”

“2. If he will make it his policy to negotiate a defence and security agreement with the EU.”

“Airports across the country are participating in the airspace modernisation review. However, there is a clear conflict of interest between environmental imperatives and profit motives. Will the Secretary of State undertake to introduce an independent member on each airspace review panel?”

“Very interesting, thank you.”

“It has always been a very high principle that under their fiduciary duty, pension funds must act in the best interest of savers. On the face of it, mandation is a potential conflict or contradiction. How would you react to that challenge?”

“From the sound of it, it was an amicable agreement, an amicable accord.”

“It sounds as though threats of mandation were not necessary, and we ended up in a happy place. If the Government were to subsequently include powers to mandate in the Bill, how would you feel?”

“Yvonne, you partially answered my next question: do you think it is doable by the 2030 deadline or target? Would everyone agree that that is feasible? Rachel, you were talking about the need for a pipeline.”

“This has turned into a bit of a topical question, but do you think that pension funds can invest effectively in the UK market? In particular, do you think yesterday’s Mansion House accord will have a positive or negative effect on that?”

“I think you partially touched on this, but do you think it would be helpful to have a more formal definition of what fiduciary duty consists of? Clearly it is already being interpreted very widely from what you said, William, but would it be beneficial to give clarity to the industry?”

“7. What diplomatic steps his Department is taking to support Ukraine.”

“I thank my hon. Friend, who makes a very good point. The system is working almost to the reverse of what was intended. In my constituency of Horsham many people either work for London businesses or perhaps have traded down from a more expensive London property. From their point of view, Horsham represents excellent val…”

“I thank the Minister for his reply and all Members for their very interesting contributions. One thing that is really striking is that we see the same problem up and down the land. It may manifest itself locally, but it is a national problem. Like many Members of this Parliament, I come from a local council background—…”

“Yes, it makes strategic planning very difficult. Provision of infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, is a major problem and not sufficiently built into the planning system to compensate for it. It is easier in urban centres where the infrastructure is already in place. This is the reason we have contrived to have…”

“For the individuals who benefit, no one can argue with it. It is the same with the sale of a council house—if you are the family that gets it, it has clearly given you a massive uplift. What I am saying is that we have a national societal problem to solve in the housing market in general. We have a certain amount of mo…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered reform of the standard method for assessing local housing need. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. Everyone agrees that across much of the country, homes have become far too expensive either to rent or to buy. There is less consensus on the best w…”

“Last weekend the Prime Minister said that the UK would do all that it could to support Ukraine. If that is the case, why do the Government continue to prevaricate over seizing billions of pounds in frozen assets held in UK banks, which could be used to build Ukraine defences? The longer we delay, the more likely it is …”

“10. What estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment on the number of people receiving that payment who will move into employment.”

“The Government say that their PIP reforms will help people into employment, but the Multiple Sclerosis Society says that 60% of sufferers believe those reforms will make it harder for them to find work, not easier. An estimate must have been made of what percentage of claimants will feasibly enter employment as a resul…”