Speeches by Blackman.

“We are seeing 400 jobs go, and we saw jobs go at Grangemouth. Is the Minister surprised that people in Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland, who are arguing for a just transition and being promised 60,000 jobs five years hence, have no faith in this Labour Government?”

“indicated assent.”

“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Earlier today, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton South East (Pat McFadden), made a statement. During the statement, he said: “Since then, as part of the legal proceedings challenging the Government’s decision, evidence has be…”

“The Secretary of State said that as part of the legal proceedings challenging the Government’s decision, evidence has been cited about research findings from a 2007 report. Who cited that evidence? Was it the Department for Work and Pensions or the Government, or was it the people opposing the Government in the court c…”

“Especially because of the size of our party right now and the fact that we don’t always get called in all of the debates, I think it is the case that people think, “I’ve got the choice. Will I be home for my constituents and my kids, and to care for my mother on that Thursday, or will I put in for that debate? If I put…”

“The pandemic was very, very messy in so many ways, for so many people. The Procedure Committee met a ridiculous amount during the pandemic; we met multiple times a week to try to sort out what was going to happen. A huge number of ad hoc decisions were made about things that had to be put in place incredibly quickly an…”

“It is helpful that you can do that. However, it provides slight advantages to certain people. You guys are much closer to the Speaker. It is much easier for you to go and ask the Speaker that question. It is much easier for MPs who can walk easily to go and ask the Speaker that question than it is for ones that struggl…”

“I would not dare say such a thing. I think it depends on the debate and on the different calls on time for that debate. For example, in the Black History Month debate last week, we had a significant number of people speaking, from all different backgrounds, and it was brilliant. Whips are generally quite good at recogn…”

“I am not sure that there will always be a requirement for people to be in the Chamber. I can already go to the Speaker or Deputy Speaker and say, “I haven’t eaten for the whole day. Could I please just nip out for 20 minutes to grab myself a sandwich?” I still have that opportunity just now. It would probably bother th…”

“That would potentially be helpful. Generally, the Government Chief Whip takes responsibility for those parties beyond the fourth party. For example, the SNP do our own accommodation, whereas Government Whips do it for Plaid Cymru and the Greens. Quite often, I will go to the Chair to ask questions on behalf of the Gree…”

“It is helpful that you can do that. However, it provides slight advantages to certain people. You guys are much closer to the Speaker. It is much easier for you to go and ask the Speaker that question. It is much easier for MPs who can walk easily to go and ask the Speaker that question than it is for ones that struggl…”

“I think sometimes you get people not putting in for a debate because they do not think they will get called. That means that they do not turn up for the debate at all, whereas if they had had certainty that they would probably get called, you would increase attendance. So I think it will do both. You might have people …”

“I am not sure that there will always be a requirement for people to be in the Chamber. I can already go to the Speaker or Deputy Speaker and say, “I haven’t eaten for the whole day. Could I please just nip out for 20 minutes to grab myself a sandwich?” I still have that opportunity just now. It would probably bother th…”

“I think sometimes you get people not putting in for a debate because they do not think they will get called. That means that they do not turn up for the debate at all, whereas if they had had certainty that they would probably get called, you would increase attendance. So I think it will do both. You might have people …”

“I think Whips should be all-powerful. [Laughter.] I think you have more experience of the Scottish Parliament system than I do. Probably what I liked was the order thing, and I am less bothered about who chooses it. If the Speaker chooses it—that is what currently happens, as the Speaker and Deputy Speakers are the one…”

“I think Whips should be all-powerful. [Laughter.] I think you have more experience of the Scottish Parliament system than I do. Probably what I liked was the order thing, and I am less bothered about who chooses it. If the Speaker chooses it—that is what currently happens, as the Speaker and Deputy Speakers are the one…”

“I think across the board would be helpful. I am tempted to say that they would not be so helpful for general debates or Backbench Business debates, but often those debates are hugely oversubscribed because people are really interested in particular topics—say you have pitched for a three-hour debate in the Chamber and …”

“I think across the board would be helpful. I am tempted to say that they would not be so helpful for general debates or Backbench Business debates, but often those debates are hugely oversubscribed because people are really interested in particular topics—say you have pitched for a three-hour debate in the Chamber and …”

“I am in favour of the idea of published call lists. I am agnostic about exactly how they are published. As long as the Whips Offices have access to them, that would suit me, but as a Whip you would expect me to say that. Why am I in favour of a call list? We often have oversubscribed debates in which people do not get …”

“I am Kirsty Blackman, the MP for Aberdeen North. I am currently the SNP Chief Whip. I was on the Procedure Committee for a reasonable period of time in previous Parliaments, including over the time of covid, when we did a huge amount of work on call lists.”