Speeches by Caliskan.

“That is really helpful. I have a final question specifically on property leases. The FCDO spends around £160 million—I think that is annually, or at least it did in 2023-24—on property leases. I want to understand and get some assurances that the capital spend that might be associated with purchasing is weighed against…”

“That is helpful, thank you. My follow-up question was going to be on governance and oversight, because there is a governance and oversight element to this, as well. There are operational decisions that have to be taken on the ground, but there is also a role for FCDO centrally. Can anything in particular be done to imp…”

“I thank the panel members for your time. I want to build on the conversation that other Committee members have opened up about maintenance and lessons learned. It is not really acceptable that the FCDO has not had a coherent strategy. For the purposes of reflection—the point of this Committee is to understand how thing…”

“I would like to ask a few questions on the FCDO’s understanding of the overall costs of the overseas estate. As the Report sets out, the FCDO divides its overseas estate funding between estates funding—things like the purchasing of properties—and maintenance funding. Both categories require revenue and capital funding.…”

“I just want to understand what was happening, and what the intention is, going forward, a bit more. That is in the context in which I want to ask: how have you been working with overseas posts to ensure that they are managing their estates to a required standard? As you have set out already, there are different challen…”

“Finally, please can you say something about the restructure of the estates management department specifically? I am trying to get a sense of whether that happening prompted the governance focus, or vice versa. Often these things are interlinked. What has the impact been of the restructure of the estates management depa…”

“I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision about the evaluation of training about special educational needs and disabilities in initial teacher education; to require training about special education needs and disabilities for certain persons working in schools as part of their continuing pr…”

“As a member of the cross-party UK delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I have had the opportunity to meet Ukrainian Members of Parliament, who make the powerful case for continuing support from NATO allies. It has become clear in recent months that other countries in the region—Poland and the Baltic states of…”

“I take this opportunity to mark an important week for our armed forces. I welcome everything my hon. Friend says about support for our armed forces and their families by way of investment in their homes and more money in their pockets. Does he agree that supporting our armed forces goes way beyond just the equipment th…”

“Barking community hospital in my constituency has been providing antenatal services to mothers in Barking for many years, and women also use its services to give birth. I was therefore really disappointed when I heard last week that the maternity birthing unit is likely to close. Many in my community are deeply concern…”

“So the next stage is for the Treasury to sign off the framework, or—”

“There seems to be a clear timeline or, at least, process going forward, but I want to press a bit more. In 2022, it was first identified that the framework was not adequate. I think the Treasury said it was non-compliant. As of now, it is still not updated, so that has been the case for quite a lengthy period of time. …”

“Thank you. I am going to move on to some questions about the MOD’s role as a funder for RFCAs. A few years ago, the MOD asked the Treasury to review the financial framework between the Army and the council. In 2022, the review raised concerns about the framework’s compliance with Treasury rules. The NAO Report details …”

“So it is absolutely not about actively coercing cadets, but making sure that there is the available information for those who are seeking out pathways. David Williams indicated assent.”

“That is very clear in all the reports. The MOD, the cadets and the reserves are very clear about that, but a large proportion of the Army has come through the cadets, and I cannot help but think that it is a really powerful way to show young people a meaningful and inspiring career path. Do you think that there has bee…”

“I am going to ask some questions on the MOD’s role as a funder, but let me first build on Chris’s points about the efforts to get more cadets recruited. I absolutely agree with the point about devolution, but on a smaller scale too, the picture can look very different even from local authority to local authority. If yo…”

“Sometimes there is a tension between the desire to professionalise an organisation and the need, at the same time, to reach out to non-traditional communities to recruit. To what extent has the challenge of that potential tension been considered?”

“General Overton and General Gordon, can you comment a bit more on how the MOD can use the RFCAs to invigorate its relationship with the strategic reserve, as recommended by the strategic defence review? The Committee has previously heard representation from witnesses on the need for flexibility, and armed forces that a…”

“Thank you to the panel members. The major general has already referenced the Ukrainian war. For context, before I get into my question, which builds on the Chair’s question, in 2023 the Defence Command Paper stated: “The War in Ukraine has reminded the world that Reserves are essential both on and off the battlefield.”…”

“Does that mean in the next few months? I am just trying to get a sense of when the new framework will be used for financial decision making.”