Speeches by Sullivan.

“Will my hon. Friend give way?”

“Churches are the bedrock of our communities and play a particularly strong role at the heart of our villages. St Philomena’s church in Winchburgh has been a centre of spiritual, community and cultural life for 100 years. It celebrated that milestone with a special mass led by Archbishop Leo Cushley on 26 October. Will …”

“Russia’s kidnapping of children as a weapon in its illegal invasion of Ukraine is absolutely abhorrent and wicked, and I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Johanna Baxter) for her sterling efforts to make sure that these children are not forgotten in this place. Unfortunately, this is…”

“Does that mean that there will be some engagement, for example, with local climate action networks that are already established in the country?”

“Just to follow on from that briefly, part of it will be around building capacity within local communities, from what you said.”

“You mentioned that a key area of focus will be local energy. I am aware of the local power plans. I was just wondering if you could tell me how they fit in with that focus in the strategic plan, when we can expect to see them and the benefits that you expect them to deliver to local communities.”

“I completely appreciate the initiatives around hospitals, schools and even leisure centres, which are very energy intensive, particularly when they have swimming pools, but what about for consumers, the domestic user? How will bills be brought down for good, which is a commitment in the mission?”

“These job losses are not new; we know that the decline has been happening over many years, with approximately 75,000 jobs lost between 2016 and 2024. Can you tell me what Great British Energy is going to do now to address this employment gap?”

“The Government have said that they aim to cut energy bills by up to £300 by 2030. Are you confident that can be delivered?”

“This Committee’s report on the future of Scotland’s oil and gas industry concluded that the loss of jobs in oil and gas is not being matched by the new jobs coming online. Do you agree with that? Do you recognise that situation?”

“You have been very clear about the expertise that exists around the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas, but do you envisage job opportunities potentially arising across the central belt from supply chains that could potentially support the skilled workforce in and around the industrial cluster at Grangemouth?”

“GB Energy’s mission includes both accelerating clean energy deployment and reducing bills for consumers. How realistic is it that you can achieve both those objectives simultaneously?”

“Thank you. You answered my second question. However, I want to touch on the last point you made to recognise that skills are devolved in Scotland. The DWP still retains levers for unemployment. Given the gravity of the situation and the opportunities potentially lost to those one in six young Scots, is there anything m…”

“Secretary of State, you will be aware that one in six young Scots are not currently in education, training or employment. That is one in six young people who are losing out on vital opportunities to fulfil their potential and to thrive. Are the UK and Scottish Governments aligned in their approach to addressing youth u…”

“It directly relates to employment opportunities.”

“Secretary of State, as you are aware, the US President and Vice-President visited Scotland this summer. I know there has been a little bit of back and forth between the UK Government and the Scottish Government on the issue of the security costs. Which Government is responsible for covering the £24 million of policing …”

“Coming back to the issue of youth unemployment, we are hearing from the workforce—and this Committee has heard in many evidence sessions—about the skill shortage that industry is facing. Often it is hampering growth because they cannot attract the people they need to fulfil the positions to push on. At the same time, y…”

“I believe that young people in Scotland should have access to the same opportunities that people do in the rest of the UK, so thank you for that. How do you respond to the Resolution Foundation’s concerns about the UK Government’s plan to abolish youth rates within the minimum wage and that it may cause young people to…”

“It is a lot of the same objectives in local communities.”

“Given you have mentioned Pride in Place—and I am very glad to hear that a large part of my constituency, West Lothian, will be a recipient of that funding—can you tell me how you believe that aligns with the objectives that the city region deal has looked to deliver?”