Speeches by Fortune.

“Did you say that we are going to get a decision soon on whether that cancelled HS2 money is going to continue to be used and allocated to local authorities?”

“When we look at the figure, there is a 50% increase. That is not including the Network North money that has gone in.”

“I am sorry if you touched on this earlier, but the figures that were talked about in the paper—£1.1 billion to £1.6 billion—did not include the money that had come from the cancelled HS2 funds, did they?”

“It is a huge figure. When I am driving outside of my local authority, which has, of course, perfectly smooth and wonderful roads, and I hit a pothole, I always say to myself—and my kids take the mick out of me for it—“What am I paying my flipping road tax for?” I went away to think about that when I saw the Asphalt Ind…”

“That is what I thought. What do I pay my road tax for?”

“I have to admit that that £8.3 billion allocation surprised me a little bit. For my clarity, £150 million was issued in 2023-24, and £150 million in 2024-25. Local authorities were expecting that to continue.”

“I was looking at the school census data from 2024, specific to my borough, and this is one of those things that can be a real shock to the financial system. We have somewhere in the region of 1,200 young people in Bromley independent schools who are having some sort of SEN provision, but of those three-quarters do not …”

“This builds on what Jonathan was talking about there because, throughout this session, we have seen that the real challenge, especially to local authorities, is that pressure and that increasing demand. In terms of the forward planning and the cost, what are you doing to make a plan to deal with this, while having an e…”

“Then it comes back to the 98%.”

“It is a combination of understanding the causes but also ensuring there is value for money at the point of delivery.”

“That is the point I am thinking of.”

“A low percentage are expected to apply for an EHCP.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, the Government—I have picked up that habit from my hon. Friend and I do apologise. I am impressed by what has been achieved at the international investment summit. Within weeks of allegedly receiving the worst economic inheritance of any incoming Government since the second world war, Labour has supposedly secured…”

“I pay tribute to those who have made their maiden speeches today. I think we all felt the passion and emotion in the beautiful speech by the hon. Member for Congleton (Mrs Russell). She has given me an idea: when I am out in Keston this weekend, I might recommend to the residents that we get ourselves a village bear—al…”

“Apologies if I get the procedure wrong—it is the first time I have done this. I align myself with the comments of my right hon. Friend—”

“One day. I have a quick question for the Minister on the consultation. I appreciate that there is no formal consultation required, but the paper says that there has been informal consultation with stakeholders. Can the Minister tell us who those stakeholders are?”

“My children have been educated in both the state and independent sectors. I spoke earlier in the Westminster Hall debate about how Labour’s plan to impose VAT on independent schools is a tax on aspiration, but it is also something else: a lack of understanding of how to govern. The Government’s education tax is not jus…”

“I should be clear that both my children attend independent schools. Like many parents who make the same choice, my wife and I, with the support of our families, made sacrifices to enrol them. We did so because, with that support, we could. Make no mistake: I recognise it is a privilege to have that opportunity. Like ma…”

“Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I have learned from the potential misstep of the hon. Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts), and I promise to gaze at you throughout my entire speech. A maiden speech is, by tradition and design, quite light-hearted, and that is how I have fashioned mine, but I want the H…”