Speeches by Madders.

“I am sorry to say that I have not been able to feel the same enthusiasm as the Prime Minister in recent days, and we are at odds over a big issue—Arsenal’s premier league victory. However, I join the majority of people in this country in wanting the champions league final, which Arsenal are participating in, to be a su…”

“I welcome the efforts to support drivers at the petrol pumps, but this situation has not led to an increase in demand for electric vehicles. As the Chair of the Select Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North (Liam Byrne) has said, the automotive sector is facing a real cr…”

“The UK has a number of memorandums of understanding and strategic partnerships with other countries. Can you give us some idea of how that is manifesting itself in dealing with some of these issues? Are there other things? Are there good examples? Is there much in terms of looking at supply chain vulnerabilities? Is it…”

“There are a variety of different partnerships and alliances—call them what you want—with the G7, EU, US and so on. Do you consider those to be effective? What are the strengths and weaknesses of them? Are there things that are not in them that you really think ought to be?”

“In terms of cross-Government public agencies, you are the man to tie it all together and drive it through.”

“An announcement on that is imminent, is it?”

“We had evidence on China yesterday, and there was quite a lot of concern about how it might dominate. One of our witnesses said that we do have an opportunity with strategic alliances.”

“Do you think that this should be led from the Department and that it should be driving this forward, or does it need another actor?”

“In my understanding, it is DWP that is responsible for that, and they would have a different take on it, potentially.”

“Do you feel that the UK Government are aligned?”

“Picking up on some of the evidence Alexandra gave about the EU and the recycling positions, I also understood that the EU was looking at different health and safety classifications for lithium. Is there anything in the partnerships that helps us influence and shape that?”

“We heard from some of the lithium miners that they certainly feel that the targets you have in the strategy are achievable, but there is a bit of a block in terms of getting to deliver on that. What are you able to do to help them achieve those targets?”

“In terms of the funding that has been allocated in the strategy, are you able to give us an indication of whether any of that has been spent, what you are planning to use it for or what the priorities will be?”

“This is for the sort of things the Minister has just been alluding to.”

“We have the Minister coming later on. What advice would you be giving to him about how we turn these words into concrete action?”

“Thank you. That is very clear.”

“It would need someone to make a fairly forceful political argument that this was in the national interest.”

“Looking at it from the other perspective, we had a long list of areas where China is more competitive. Do you think the Government would be better off trying to address UK competitiveness in those sectors instead?”

“A lot of the suggestions that you have come up with would effectively hit British households in terms of how much they are going to have to pay. Do you think that is a sustainable way forward in terms of where we are at the moment?”

“Greg, could I just go back to the dilemma around what I would characterise as how far you push on these issues to untangle yourself? The point that you are making is that China is not going to be passive in this. Does this need a concerted political drive over a long period? Is there a point at which—we may have reache…”