Speeches by Smith.

“My constituents continue to face delays in accessing driving tests post covid. The Government’s important consultation covers tackling bot activity, bulk and speculative bookings, and improving access to genuine test slots. A driving instructor in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney has expressed his concerns about potential boo…”

“I welcome this week’s trade agreement with the gulf countries, and I give particular thanks to the Ministers and diplomats who worked hard to deliver it. Given Iran’s belligerence towards its neighbours, however, can the Minister outline what measures we are taking to support gulf states under threat from Iran, and to …”

“I thank the Chancellor for her statement. I agree that the best economic policy today is diplomatic policy. Given the situation in Iran, will she tell us more about her plans for putting economic pressure on the leadership there to de-escalate this dreadful situation?”

“Constituents involved in my local Rotary club have contacted me about the global polio eradication programme. I am reliably advised that Ministers want to concentrate resources for the best impact. Can the Minister reassure my constituents that the UK remains determined to protect the important gains made in polio erad…”

“11. What funding her Department is providing to help improve participation in grassroots sport.”

“Last week, I visited our youth hub in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, and heard at first hand some fantastic success stories of young people being supported into work through this Labour Government’s prioritisation. Can we have a ministerial statement on the work of these hubs and how they will integrate with the new youth …”

“I declare an interest as the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on parkrun. As the Minister knows, parkrun is a global phenomenon, and it has just celebrated its 21st birthday this year. Currently, over 1,300 parkrun events take place across the UK every Saturday morning, including two in my constituency of Bla…”

“I, too, read the waterside options. The issue is that there is a preferred option, which is that the Commons moves to the northern estate and the House of Lords moves to the QEII centre. That has been proposed for safety and value-for-money reasons.”

“The Church Commissioner gets another rest. In February, the Restoration and Renewal Client Board reported costed proposals for the programme and a recommended way forward. The key recommendations are a phase 1 works package and the preparation of temporary accommodation, including a long-term resilience Commons Chamber…”

“I am delighted to give the Second Church Estates Commissioner, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Marsha De Cordova), a short rest this morning. The possibility of the House of Lords being temporarily based in the neighbouring QEII centre during restoration and renewal is being considered. The R and R programme h…”

“My hon. Friend is right to emphasise the QEII centre’s value to the UK events sector. However, I am advised that the evidence indicates that any displaced events could be accommodated by other conference centres in London, given the available spare capacity. Events, visitor spending and associated economic activity wou…”

“I thank the Minister for his statement. I am glad to see that he is stepping in, and I am pleased to hear that National Savings & Investments will focus on reuniting bereaved families with their money, which it holds after things went badly wrong. How will he and the Government raise awareness with savers of the fa…”

“Can we please have agreed and accurate facts so that everybody can understand what is going on for the future?”

“Many of the letters that our constituents depend on are not covered by the USO because they use the Royal Mail access service. What is Ofcom doing to ensure that the Royal Mail delivers those on time?”

“I am trying to work out what is going on here. I received a letter from the Wales operations director of Royal Mail about the Ebbw Vale office, and they told me that the yearly absence rate there is 9%. I understand that the Royal Mail average for absence is 7%, and the overall sickness rate for the UK is 2%. What is g…”

“And that was the 50%.”

“In our south Wales valleys, there are sometimes many steps to a letter box—our posties earn their pay. Can I just check a fact with you, please, Mr Walsh? Did you say that there are 28,000 new starters and then leavers in the last year?”

“Ms Black, Mr Křetínský talked about a first-class mail delivery success rate of over 90%, but in your introduction you talked about a success rate of 76%. Is someone not telling the truth, or do you have mixed targets going on here?”

“What are you doing to ensure that it is a better service in future?”

“Mr Cochrane, it is good to hear about your NHS-specific barcode approach. How many NHS organisations have signed up across the UK and what percentage is that of UK households? We get letters from constituents who talk about missed cancer care and appointments. How many individual complaints have you received at the Roy…”