Speeches by Murray.

“Does the Secretary of State agree that Scotland cannot meet its long-term energy security and net zero goals without new nuclear power, and that the University of Strathclyde’s internationally recognised power networks demonstration centre, whose expertise in grid integration and systems resilience is world leading, wi…”

“T4. There is a higher prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Scotland than in any other part of the UK. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that people living with MS can access both a timely diagnosis and equitable specialist care, regardless of where they live in the UK?”

“I want to pick up a bit more of the discussion around about being place-based. How do we make sure that growth is balanced across the regions?”

“This is a bit off-topic, and I apologise for that, Chair. It is about recognising how much of Northern Ireland has access to proper, consistent 5G, and that infrastructure that is there too. It is recognising that it is not just rural—I am thinking of my own constituency, where the signal literally drops out, and we ar…”

“Within that, we have a number of levels of government, whether it be the Northern Ireland Office, the Treasury, the Executive, local government or the city or regional growth deals. What is your perception of how well everybody is playing together to progress this in order to benefit Northern Ireland? It is not even th…”

“To expand on that, are the specific needs of Northern Ireland being met in the industrial strategy?”

“Kilsyth war memorial bears the names of the men of the town who lost their life in foreign wars—men whose service we recognise and remember every year on VE Day, VJ Day and Remembrance Sunday. On one face of that memorial sits a single, solitary name—a name set apart. The difference between that name and the others is …”

“Is there any advice you can give us on future-proofing it?”

“Thank you, Alyson and David, for coming back to see us again. It is really nice to meet you, Joe, and to get your perspectives. What has become clear is the complexity of the work ahead of us and the importance of getting it right. As well as getting the legislative part of it correct, there is the practical implementa…”

“Do you have any comment on that, Alyson?”

“Particularly given the current situation, where trust in the process needs to be built up and established, or that might stop families coming forward.”

“Joe, I want to go back to your comment about the power the proposals give the Secretary of State to wind up the Legacy Commission when they are satisfied that the need for the exercise of the functions has ceased. What are your specific concerns in relation to that power?”

“I will come back to you on the winding up.”

“Some 53 years after the events of Bloody Sunday, and 15 years after the report of the Saville inquiry, it is becoming clear that future criminal cases will be few and far between, but every single day, this issue sits with the families who have lost loved ones. It affects every day of their lives, be they the families …”

“Cumbernauld theatre in my constituency is a modern, thriving community venue, but it faces closure after Creative Scotland refused it multi-year funding. The trust is fundraising for the £300,000 needed by mid-December to keep the venue open, but the Scottish Government could still step in and save it. Community theatr…”

“Thank you very much for coming in. To pick up on some of the other points, changes to funding in the sector—changes to pockets and envelopes of funds—at short notice is nothing new. Thirty years ago I worked in an urban programme funding projects in communities. I had that stack of redundancy notices that came out on 3…”

“Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the general manager of one of the major supermarkets in my constituency. We talked about our memories of the early days of the covid pandemic, with the rows and rows of empty shelves. All pandemic planning should build on the lessons learned from the last one, so what role is the…”

“5. What progress he has made with Cabinet colleagues on improving cross-Government co-ordination on preparedness for a future pandemic.”

“Part of the recommendation was an onus on all parties involved in those decisions to have a role in the building and development of trust. How would you ask the UK Government to acknowledge the wider effect that this piece of legislation could have on Northern Ireland?”

“Thank you, Lord Murphy, for coming today and for the work you have done on this issue. I would like to look at the whole concept of the Stormont brake and the Government’s response to the first use of the Stormont brake at the first opportunity, which was to override it. Ministers have notified Stormont of only two of …”