Speeches by Smith.

“Am I right that the hon. Lady is suggesting that a partially sighted person or a disabled person is somehow lower down the hierarchy than a cyclist, simply because they are on a bus rather than walking or cycling?”

“I want to expand a little on what my hon. Friend was saying about sustainable fuels that are, literally, drop-in fuel alternatives. Anyone watching the British Grand Prix this weekend knows that motor racing is beginning to use such fuel. There is real appetite for manufacturing it in the UK, but regulations get in the…”

“Last week, I spent time at the Box museum in Plymouth, before heading to Plympton in my constituency for the unveiling of a blue plaque to honour the life of Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, who was the first director of the National Gallery and chair of the commission to procure art for the new Palace of Westminster. One qu…”

“Dawn, you mention in your written evidence the challenges caused by incremental investment in the Tyne and Wear metro. Would you be able to elaborate on this, please?”

“Is there anything that your organisation would have done differently in that project?”

“Yes, I suppose this is a wider piece. I represent a constituency in the south-west. We look at what goes on in the north and hear lots about the north and midlands, and you refer to what is going on as significant infrastructure, and that sort of thing. Who is your competition, nationally? I am a massive HS2 sceptic, b…”

“The recently reopened Northumberland line is an example of a combined authority working with Network Rail and industry to deliver an enhancement scheme. Could you describe how that process worked and whether you think it has been successful?”

“So you are essentially saying that the south-west could, effectively, learn from the north-east, because we are probably—”

“I think there is some slight confusion among Committee members because my hon. Friend said clause 23 when he meant clause 27.”

“Given the Minister is comparing the rail system with buses, and saying that he wants to bring buses into line with the railway, I am intrigued about who will do that enforcement. We have the British Transport police on the railway, and there are signs everywhere and a phone number that someone can call, but at the mome…”

“I am intrigued: does the hon. Member agree that we also have an issue where pedestrian crossings land straight on to cycle routes on busy main roads? Although it is outside the scope of the Bill, would his proposed review also look at that? For example, when a visually impaired person or someone using a wheelchair cros…”

“It is great to serve under your chairmanship this morning, Dame Siobhain. I want to follow up on what my hon. Friend the Member for Broadland and Fakenham said and ask a few additional questions, particularly about the provision in clause 18 for persons with disabilities. I obviously welcome the inclusion of this claus…”

“Last week, I asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury what happened to the £4 billion earmarked for autonomous systems, including in Plymouth. That line was in the Chancellor’s spending review speech, but not delivered on the day. The Chief Secretary did not know. Can the Secretary of State confirm that this funding e…”

“I am sure the Minister recognises that in addition to this plan to diversify the deterrent launch method, the UK must ensure that our strategic CASD enterprise has an effective and productive industrial base, delivering faster maintenance times. Can she therefore confirm whether these aircraft will be budgeted from the…”

“I entirely agree with my right hon. Friend. Indeed, St Luke’s hospice in my constituency will be facing exactly the same issues. At risk of closure is Tubb pharmacy in Newton Ferrers in my constituency, which I have raised in this place before. Pharmacist Esi has been helped massively by an incredibly active community.…”

“I thank my right hon. Friend for his intervention. I agree that, and there are issues right across the country. The trust in my constituency is facing financial pressures: teacher pay awards, unfunded beyond 1.7%, mean a 4% increase, costing £359,330; support staff pay awards, unfunded beyond 0.9%, mean a 3.2% increase…”

“We know that a key part of primary care is community pharmacy. Indeed, that was recognised in the Darzi report, which stated: “One of the great strengths of the health service in England has been the accessibility of community pharmacy.” The previous Government committed to community pharmacy through the introduction o…”

“I am conscious that we are finishing in three minutes, so I will limit my comments to give the Minister some time. Like my hon. Friend the Member for Broadland and Fakenham, I query the premise that public is better than private. The hon. Member for Warrington South mentioned the ability to provide a better service tha…”

“I want to talk about the real-life impacts of the decisions in the education estimates, and specifically, due to the short amount of time, on school funding. There is a village in my constituency called Buckland Monachorum for whom school funding is a particularly pertinent issue. It is in the middle of campaigning, be…”

“I welcome the announcement of Plymouth’s defence cluster and the national centre for marine autonomy. I am proud that much of this work is being done in my constituency at Turnchapel Wharf and soon at Langage in the Plymouth and South Devon freeport, and that it includes Smart Sound, all of which were supported by the …”