Speeches by Rigby.

“At last month’s NATO Ministers of Defence meeting the Secretary of State agreed to step up co-operation with our NATO allies on missile defence and cutting-edge long-range missiles. Does the Minister agree that a focus on integrating NATO’s missile defence is key to strengthening European security?”

“7. What steps he is taking with his NATO counterparts to increase co-operation on missile defence.”

“At our remembrance services in Northampton on Sunday, we honoured the lives of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I welcome the Government’s introduction of the new digital veteran card this week, as it will better support our armed forces community. Will the Leader of the House consider making …”

“Chancellor, I want to add my kind words to all the other kind words this afternoon. I would add that I know you are keen to go to Darlington, but in 1205, King John moved the Treasury to Northampton—just something for you to bear in mind.”

“I am interested in the possibility of targeting economic support at households. Presumably, greater data sharing would allow that too.”

“I have a quick question, Chancellor; I want to get to the data point. I am conscious that, in the Budget, you talked about the better use of data and data sharing across Departments. How important is that to you? Presumably you see benefits in it. What level of priority would you give it?”

“Yes. Chancellor, I want to follow up on the public investment piece. The OBR assumes certain time lags when it comes to the benefits of public investment. Do you have a view on the duration of those time lags? I am conscious that you said, right at the start of this session, that you want growth to come through faster,…”

“Over that horizon, yes.”

“Chancellor, I am conscious that you also have your financial transaction control framework. As I understand it, that is intended to ensure that you provide value for money. Can you just explain a bit about how value for money will be ensured via that framework?”

“I am conscious, Chancellor, that you have changed the debt metric to net financial liability. Can you tell us a bit about why you think that is the most appropriate measure, relative to the prior measure, but also perhaps relative to public sector net worth?”

“It is project-dependent, I assume.”

“Now that Mr King has had a bit of a break, I wonder whether I might ask Mr King about the new debt metric. I am curious to know whether you think that it is a more appropriate measure than the prior debt metric. Perhaps you could also answer relative to public sector net worth.”

“I just wanted to pick something up. Mr Johnson, you were talking about data, I think from the point of view, when you referenced it just then, of good policy. I wanted to approach Treasury data from the point of view of targeting economic support to households, which is something that the Government said they want to d…”

“The better use of data, and indeed of data sharing, to enable that targeted support to households, particularly in times of crisis, for example.”

“One more question if I may, Chair, on dynamic scoring. How do you choose which policies are within scope from a scoring point of view?”

“Do you think Government might be incentivised to go for policies that you are more likely to score?”

“Just taking a step back and just to round off this bit, can you explain at a high level how this current Government’s approach to investment spending differs from what has gone before?”

“Short-term.”

“That makes sense. In relation to what you said, Mr King, about net financial liabilities, presumably, then, you welcome the financial transaction control framework, which the Government are proposing to lay over the top of that.”

“I wanted to come in on this time lags point, which Mr Glen made very well. This is the question as to whether or not the OBR is being a bit pessimistic. Although I could do with going back to the EFO, it factors in two-thirds within five years and then one-third within 10 years. Including the political impetus and the …”