Speeches by Western.

“Beyond its excellent universities, Northern Ireland is home to major innovative businesses such as Wrightbus, Spirit AeroSystems and Harland & Wolff, which specialise respectively in hydrogen vehicles, composite wing and aerostructure manufacture, and modular construction and shipping. Given the economic importance…”

“I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement and am greatly saddened by Stellantis’s decision. May I suggest that plant and platform rationalisation would have been a major factor? Let us be honest: the industry wanted certainty, but automotiv…”

“Ukraine faces a hell of a battle on its eastern front with Russia, but on the home front the challenge is just as great. As it faces a harsh winter, it was reported just last week that 80% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is either damaged or destroyed. They desperately need power generators and associated equipment.…”

“I would love to stay on that subject, but we must move on. I want to talk about dynamic pricing. There is a lot of concern out there. The CMA introduced its review 10 or 12 days ago. Anyone who has tried to buy anything online—particularly airline tickets, travel tickets or, dare I say it, Oasis tickets—will have sudde…”

“I have a very quick question. I just want to pick up on the Chair’s opening line of questioning. Secretary of State, the extraordinary achievement of getting £63 billion of inward investment was an excellent result and a real vote of confidence in the UK. Last week, we saw the PMI indicator coming in at less than 50. I…”

“Very briefly, Secretary of State, on trade strategy, this links to small and medium-sized businesses. As part of that strategy, do you see an opportunity to replicate in some way the German model, where they help small and medium-sized businesses to set up trading arrangements in-country? They have this network, with n…”

“Secretary of State, you have touched on the threats to UK economic security. What do you see as the greatest threats to UK economic resilience? What needs to be done to improve that resilience?”

“It is about intellectual property. Going back to my earlier point about small and medium-sized businesses, the concerns that they have about Europe were pretty straightforward, and they understood it and so on, but going further is a great challenge. There are real concerns, particularly from certain nations, which I w…”

“I want to come in briefly on the point about growth for small businesses and so on. I totally agree about how good we are at innovative new businesses, but all too often they cash out too soon. I am thinking of what happens in Germany with the Mittelstand and the family businesses that dominate so much of its economy. …”

“With the background of the cost of living crisis and rip-off Britain, there is perhaps increasing evidence of price gouging. Depending upon the outcomes of this review, what do you expect your Department to do in response to that?”

“I am no friend of Hamas, but we must remember that Prime Minister Netanyahu promised us intelligence-led precision attacks in Gaza. We have seen daily violation of international law, 43,000 people killed, restrictions on food and aid, and 136 journalists killed. I welcome the Government’s announcement about respecting …”

“My right hon. Friend has illustrated a great many aspects of the mess that this Government have inherited from the last, including longer waiting lists, our crumbling schools and our failing economy, and nowhere is that mess more visible than on the A46 in Warwickshire, between Coventry and Stratford, which adjoins my …”

“I associate myself with the remarks from Mr Speaker and the Prime Minister about John Prescott. Although I did not know him personally, it is fair to say that he was clearly a phenomenon. The Prime Minister will be fully aware of the importance of the investments of Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Group here in the United K…”

“You estimate it, don’t you?”

“I just want to go back through the numbers. The figures you mentioned, Mr Recaldin, added up to something like £550 million by the end of March. We are talking about 1,100 cases. Is that right? Did I get that figure correct?”

“At the last session, Dr Hudgell gave some evidence that suggested that there seems to be an extraordinary ratio between the original offer and what might ultimately be paid. In one case it was £4,000, which went up to £133,000. Why are the first offers so ridiculously low? Surely there must be some sensible, obvious, p…”

“It is striking, isn’t it, that the original budget was £1.2 billion, although it has been increased, and that lawyers have cost £268 million? That is quite a striking proportion of the total budget.”

“I think it was armed up when you inherited it.”

“At the Wyn Williams inquiry, former Minister Kevin Hollinrake said it would be a mistake for Government to arm up with lawyers—an interesting observation for someone now in opposition as opposed to Government. Do you agree with him?”

“Mr Thomas, what specific instructions have you given to your lawyers to make sure that sub-postmasters are getting fair and fast offers, and what specific metrics are you applying to ensure that swift and fair process is being achieved?”