Speeches by Smith.

“You have discussed Transport for Wales a little bit, which is obviously what you are here to represent. In a Welsh network largely owned by GBR, which is where the Bill will take us, and on which some GBR services will run, what risks do you feel there are to Transport for Wales’s ability to run its services effectivel…”

“Just a quick question: do you feel there is anything in the Bill that would serve the interests of people living outside a mayoral strategic authority, as it stands?”

“The NHS has finally issued a call for evidence regarding a clinical pathway for adults who wish to detransition. Does the hon. Lady agree that that is a welcome and long-overdue first step, and that the NHS must continue making serious efforts to improve care for detransitioners?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I will be brief because we are running out of time. Detransitioners are an often marginalised and misunderstood group. Ritchie Herron is a civil servant who underwent gender surgery in 2018 in order to live as a woman. That involved rearranging tissue in the…”

“The Minister knows of the Plymouth Violence against Women and Girls Commission, which highlighted the role of pornography in VAWG. It is my view that schools should be a place where pupils can concentrate on learning and not have access to social media, including abusive forms of online pornography, which have been ban…”

“Turnchapel Wharf and the Cattewater in my constituency host many marine autonomous defence innovators, but the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s workboat code edition 3 is hampering the testing, development and utilisation of autonomous vessels. They cannot even get the licences to be out on the water. What conversation…”

“The excellent team at Plymouth city council work tirelessly to tackle homelessness, but pressures on the private rented sector in the city, increased because of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, has hindered the supply of permanent move-on accommodation. We know that it does not all need to be social housing and that we ne…”

“T10. What would the Minister say to businesses such as the Rusty Tractor Farm Café in my constituency? It is already paying long-term staff above the minimum wage, and it is now faced with an inflated wage bill, as it has to increase the minimum wage for its young staff, and potentially inexperienced staff, while also …”

“The Government’s dithering on grooming gangs has gone on for so long that it is now unlikely that any report into what has happened will be published before the next general election. Does the Minister think that is acceptable, and will she commit to publishing interim findings before the next general election?”

“Ben or Sue, is there anything you want to add?”

“Do you think that the Government are getting themselves involved in something that they could be leaving to the market? Going back to what Sue said about what the Bill is offering for booking of accessibility, it is offering this amazing landscape, but might we be better off developing what already exists rather than s…”

“You were nodding, Emma. Do you want to briefly add anything?”

“Ultimately, there is a double meaning to accessibility, isn’t there? There is access to the actual trains, and then accessibility to the system as a whole. Is that something you think needs to be made more explicit on the face of the Bill?”

“Promoting the needs of disabled passengers is only one of several matters GBR will have to take into account, and we have heard concerns about how accessibility will be prioritised. What guidance do you think will be needed on how to balance these considerations against each other?”

“I want to ask a question based on what you have said already. It was interesting to hear you mention the business aspect as well. I think I had forgotten that we all use a business interface to buy, and it obviously offers rail tickets and flights. Yesterday, in his winding-up speech, the Minister said that anybody who…”

“So you are effectively saying that there is a concern that there would almost have to be a second investigation if it went to the ORR, which then slows things down for passengers.”

“Do you think the watchdog should have powers to enforce its findings?”

“Would you welcome further powers for the watchdog, so that you are able to take more of that enforcement? The concern is that you will do all the nice “Let’s have a conversation about this and try to solve it and see if it changes” but could then get to a point where you cannot do anything. Do we need to be clearer tha…”

“Do you need more in the Bill, then, to make sure that that does not happen?”

“My actual question comes off that. Do you think that effective provision is being made to ensure that there is a competitive tender process for GBR retail’s back office systems?”