Speeches by Thomas-Symonds.

“Let me make some progress, and I might come back to interventions. The Government have tabled amendment (a), so that documents are published unless they prejudice national security or international relations—I know I was asked a specific question about international relations—because of course such documents might cont…”

“I will give way to the right hon. Gentleman in one moment. The Government should rightly be tested and questioned by this House, but the action that is taken by this Government is crucial now. Earlier this week, the Prime Minister asked the Cabinet Secretary to review all available information regarding Peter Mandelson…”

“I will make a bit of progress, then I will give way a few more times. Not only has the Cabinet Office referred the evidence about Peter Mandelson’s time as a Minister to the police, but we are taking action going forward, in the Hillsborough law before this House, to introduce a duty of candour for all public servants …”

“The specifics are obviously for the usual channels, but, frankly, I welcome debate and significant scrutiny of this Bill.”

“The answer to that is absolutely, in terms of having respect for and working with the devolved Administrations. One issue is that obviously UK foreign policy is reserved, while some of the implementation, particularly in SPS, is devolved. I chair an appropriate interministerial group that involves representatives from …”

“I want to answer that question. Can we vote and then come back?”

“Precisely what it looks like will obviously be part of the negotiations going forward. Broadly speaking, I expect it to be at official level and to look at what exactly is coming down the track and at our particular arrangements. While we are discussing the role for Parliament and the arbitration panel, I should say th…”

“The straight answer to that is yes, and I will come to the permanent secretary to set that out. To be clear with Members, it was known that there was a backlog; it is something that I had spoken to the chief executive of Capita about, so it did not come as a surprise. On that aspect and the recovery plan, I will turn t…”

“It will be on the Bill. As is ordinarily the case, Parliament will have a vote on the Bill and what the Bill contains. Hopefully you won’t have too long to wait for that.”

“Charlotte, if I may say so, I think that was a very pertinent declaration of interest, as that is the first topic we are going to discuss. Before I come to the details, I should say at the outset that the service, or lack thereof, that is being provided to people who have worked for many years and given their lives to …”

“I guess the direct answer is that you could also raise it with your Chair.”

“First of all, the two aspects involving alignment that we are looking to conclude by the next summit are the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement and the emission trading systems linkage. As I have said, the electricity trading negotiation began back in December, but that is not timed to finish by the next summit. With…”

“I am sure you could raise it at business questions. That would be one way to do it. The Select Committee Chairs may well have something to say about it collectively as well.”

“We have had quite a thorough run around the various issues.”

“It is certainly the case that something that is embedded is more difficult to change subsequently.”

“I would certainly have thought that the Leader of the House of Commons would play a facilitating role in it, as he always does.”

“I understand precisely the point, Chair. I would just make this observation: it is always going to be the case that one Parliament cannot bind a future Parliament. That said, I always think that the test—certainly the historic test—of whether policies stick and make a difference is whether a Government of a different c…”

“You are absolutely right to identify the issue of trust in politics. I do not think we disagree about that. I do not think we disagree either on the importance of transparency, generally speaking. But I would still argue, and I think this came out in one of the answers I gave to Markus earlier, that in the national int…”

“It is a matter for Parliament. Markus asked about the EFRA Committee. I find myself before lots of different Select Committees, which is fine, but I am sure whatever agreement we reach will be an important aspect of the debate. It is a matter for Parliament how it wishes to hold either the alignment point or me persona…”

“There we are. While you are quite right, Peter, to push us—whether with regard to lobbying or some of the other issues about responding to you, which we are more than happy to do—I do not think that should move the focus away from the changes we have made. To pick up on the Ethics and Integrity Commission, once we get …”