Speeches by Thomas-Symonds.

“As always, my hon. Friend makes a powerful case. The Government want public bodies to examine carefully how best to deliver public services. That is why we are consulting on proposals to introduce a public interest test, allowing for the evaluation of services being more effectively delivered in-house before they are c…”

“I will answer on behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven (Chris Ward), who, with your permission, Mr Speaker, is at an event with the Prime Minister in his constituency today. This Government’s new social value model includes fair working ski…”

“The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is operationally independent, but I am accountable to this House. It is important that I have regular conversations and provide challenge on the kind of timescales the hon. Gentleman is talking about. The infected blood scandal predates modern-day devolution and he can rest ass…”

“Again, I am not suggesting perfection, but the fact that the impact on Northern Ireland was identified very early is of course a positive thing. Nobody would suggest that it is not, and I think it is really important. All I would say in respect of steel is that it is a foundational industry for the whole of the United …”

“If I can just come in, there are two points. First, on the internal market guarantee and the 80% threshold within it, we have not yet had the report from the Independent Monitoring Panel to see what that percentage is. Obviously, I will look at it extremely carefully because we are very committed to the internal market…”

“We voted for the Windsor framework in opposition, when the previous Sunak Government negotiated it. We support it and have sought to implement it. However, what the SPS agreement can do—I will not go through all of it, but I will give some examples—is take away some things that are currently there. For example, SPS pap…”

“Delivering the “Safeguarding the Union” commitment to lift the remaining bans on plants—that would actually be delivering the “Safeguarding the Union” commitment. By the way, I do note it very much in negotiations, Gavin, always. The point is that we support the structure of the Windsor framework, which you have been d…”

“It is non-agricultural geographical indicators.”

“Yes, of course they inform it. We have had three reports in recent months: the FSB’s report, which I have looked at very carefully, Lord Murphy’s report and the report by the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee in the Lords. Broadly speaking, the first theme coming through is reducing trade barriers. That is exactly th…”

“First, let me say that it is very good to be here, Chair. On the latter part of the question, I would of course be delighted to come back in future. On the report, let me first express my gratitude to Lord Murphy. He was working within a particular envelope of putting forward proposals that were going to command cross-…”

“If I can just come in, there are two points. First, on the internal market guarantee and the 80% threshold within it, we have not yet had the report from the Independent Monitoring Panel to see what that percentage is. Obviously, I will look at it extremely carefully because we are very committed to the internal market…”

“We voted for the Windsor framework in opposition, when the previous Sunak Government negotiated it. We support it and have sought to implement it. However, what the SPS agreement can do—I will not go through all of it, but I will give some examples—is take away some things that are currently there. For example, SPS pap…”

“Delivering the “Safeguarding the Union” commitment to lift the remaining bans on plants—that would actually be delivering the “Safeguarding the Union” commitment. By the way, I do note it very much in negotiations, Gavin, always. The point is that we support the structure of the Windsor framework, which you have been d…”

“First, let me say that it is very good to be here, Chair. On the latter part of the question, I would of course be delighted to come back in future. On the report, let me first express my gratitude to Lord Murphy. He was working within a particular envelope of putting forward proposals that were going to command cross-…”

“Yes, of course they inform it. We have had three reports in recent months: the FSB’s report, which I have looked at very carefully, Lord Murphy’s report and the report by the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee in the Lords. Broadly speaking, the first theme coming through is reducing trade barriers. That is exactly th…”

“The SPS agreement is one of the two mandates that the EU still has to agree, along with the linking of the emissions trading systems, which we may come on to in due course. I understand that that mandate and the SPS mandate will be agreed—I hope shortly, within a few weeks—by the European Union. That is the next step i…”

“At the moment the level of confidence between the UK and the EU is very high. When I came into office, I promised a reset in the relationship. I have no doubt that has happened and you can see it, visibly, in the Prime Minister’s relations with European leaders, and in not just the work that I do but the work that is d…”

“The SPS agreement is one of the two mandates that the EU still has to agree, along with the linking of the emissions trading systems, which we may come on to in due course. I understand that that mandate and the SPS mandate will be agreed—I hope shortly, within a few weeks—by the European Union. That is the next step i…”

“Let me pick this up, because this is something where there are technical exchanges currently ongoing. You have the Artificial Intelligence Act and the Cyber Resilience Act. Both have been published. They have been notified at the moment; that is the situation under article 13(4), which is the process that Gavin was dis…”

“That is a really good question and challenge. Not only do I lead the negotiations with the EU, but I chair the interministerial group with the devolved Administrations. While the Northern Ireland voice is obviously hugely important, those discussions are also about Scotland and Wales. So there is, Sorcha, a direct form…”